Andhra Pradesh IT Minister Ponnala Lakshmaiah on Thursday appeared before the CBI in connection with a case pertaining to alleged illegal assets involving Kadapa MP and YSR Congress president YS Jaganmohan Reddy.

The CBI, which had summoned the minister, is examining him at their Kothi office over Government Orders (GOs), issued during 2004-09 by the Irrigation department, when he was the Major Irrigation minister in the cabinet of late YS Rajasekhara Reddy, on supply of water from rivers Krishna and Kagina to some cement firms, which in turn allegedly made investments in Jagan-owned businesses.

Ponnala is among the six Andhra Pradesh ministers who were issued notices by the Supreme Court in March, seeking their stand on the charge about their alleged role in the case against Jagan. CBI has so far examined three ministers in this regard and now Ponnala is the fourth minister. Earlier, ministers Dharmana Prasada Rao and home minister Sabita Indra Reddy had been questioned by the CBI, while another minister Mopidevi Venkata Ramana has been arrested and is in Chanchalguda jail. Meanwhile, the CBI is continuing interrogation of Jagan for the fifth day at their Kothi office after taking his custody from the Chanchalguda Jail where he is under judicial remand till June 11. His five-day CBI custody period will expire today.