Guwahati, Nov. 16: The CBI has summoned M.G.V.K. Bhanu, a 1985 batch IAS officer of the Assam-Meghalaya cadre, for questioning in connection with cases registered by the agency against Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy.

Bhanu, who was recently appointed Tea Board chairman, had served as special secretary to the Andhra Pradesh chief minister from 2004-2009 on inter-cadre transfer and is said to have been very close to late Y.S.R. Reddy and had allegedly shown undue favours to a couple of companies during YSR’s regime.

“CBI has asked Bhanu to appear before it tomorrow for questioning,” an official source said.

The agency has registered two cases against YSR’s son Jaganmohan Reddy for allegedly amassing wealth disproportionate to his known sources of income and against officials of Andhra Pradesh government and Emaar-MGF on charges of criminal conspiracy for promotion of villas and apartments.

The latest development has evoked curiosity in Assam, particularly among the bureaucrats, and is being closely followed here.

Bhanu’s stint in Assam was also not free of controversies and he is known to share a great rapport with Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi.

Before going on deputation to Andhra Pradesh in 2004, Bhanu served as the secretary and commissioner to Gogoi.

After his repatriation with his parent cadre towards the end of 2009, Bhanu became the resident commissioner of Assam government in New Delhi before he was appointed as the Tea Board chairman last month.

According to the source, Bhanu, who was one of the key players in the Andhra Pradesh chief minister’s office during YSR rule, is likely to be examined by the CBI in connection with alleged illegal mining by Obulapuram Mining Company involving former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and Emmar scam.

If the CBI indicts Bhanu, it might put Gogoi in an uneasy position, as according to reports doing the rounds here, the latter played a major role in getting him appointed as the Tea Board chairman.