Following the CBI action freezing Sakshi bank accounts, the Kiran Kumar Reddy government moved in for the kill. The Information and Public Relations Department has issued a GO withholding release of advertisements to Sakshi paper and Sakshi channel.
The GO dated May 9, 2012 said, “It has come to the notice of Government that the Central Bureau of Investigation has filed charge-sheet against M/s. Jagati Publications (Private) Limited, publishers of Sakshi Telugu News Daily and TV Channel”.
Government after careful examination of the matter in public interest have decided to withhold releasing advertisements, the GO said. Very significantly, the order clearly mentioned that the decision will be in effect “till the charges are cleared”.
Which means that Sakshi media houses will not get any advertisements from the government or its various departments for a long time to come, since the case again will take many months, or even years, to reach a conclusion.
The following is the operative portion of the GO:
“Government after careful examination of the matter in public interest have decided to withhold of releasing advertisements, notifications, etc., with immediate effect, by all the State Government Departments/Agencies/Public Sector undertakings/Corporations/Organisations to M/s. Jagati Publications/Sakshi Daily/TV Channel till the charges are cleared.”
This is the first time that the government has directly taken any action against Jagan or his companies. Till date, it has been the CBI or the courts, which have been acting on Jagan and his interests.
Kiran’s action is a clear indication that the government is all set henceforth to take on Jagan and his financial empire without any stops.
