The media in Andhra Pradesh is virtually resorting to hara-kiri in covering the episode of YSR Congress party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy’s arrest by the Central Bureau of Investigation in his assets case. They are virtually taking the readers for a ride by doing all sorts of kite flying for the past few days.

The other day, Andhra Jyothy carried a report on the incidents that led to Jagan’s arrest. It said Jagan had almost manhandled industrialist Nimmagadda Prasad in the presence of CBI officials when Prasad had turned tables on the Kadapa MP. It was his highhanded behaviour that forced the CBI officials to arrest him immediately, the report said.

Going by the report, one would obviously come to the conclusion that Nimmagadda has become a rival to Jagan and is spilling the beans to the CBI on flow of investments into Jagan’s companies. But Eenadu carried a different report on Thursday; according to this report, Jagan had a lengthy discussion with Nimmagadda in Chanchalguda jail and both the VIPs are spending a lot of time together. Besides, Jagan is also interacting with Koneru Prasad and Sunil Reddy, the accused in the Emaar case. So, whom to believe – Eenadu or Andhra Jyothy? If Nimmagadda has turned against Jagan, how can they have discussions in jail?

And Sakshi also carried a kite flying report, saying that former CBI director and former Telugu Desam Party minister K Vijayarama Rao had met CBI joint director V V Lakshminarayana. The Sakshi wanted to convey to the people that Vijayarama Rao was influencing the CBI probe against Jagan. Readers wonder how a former CBI director who had retired nearly 14 years ago would be able to influence the present CBI officials. But that is how the present day journalism is!