YSR Congress president Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy was a free man Tuesday, nearly 16 months after he was arrested and jailed in a corruption case.

 

 

 Thousands of his supporters welcomed him at his Lotus Pond residence Tuesday night as his convoy reached the destination, more than five hours after it started from Chanchalguda Central Jail.

 

 It was an emotional moment for the young leader as his mother Y. S. Vijayamma, sister Sharmila, wife Y.S. Bharathi and both the daughters welcomed him at the palatial house in Jubliee Hills.

 

 The MP from Kadapa paid tributes to his father, the late Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy soon after entering the house. Party legislators, other top leaders and activists who had come from different parts of the state were waiting for him since morning.

 

 As soon as the convoy reached the residence, his supporters erupted in joy, bursting crackers and raising slogans of 'Jai Jagan' as the leader is popularly known. Police had a tough time in controlling the surging crowd trying to enter the house.

 

 The MP's supporters vied with each other to shake hands with him. He was also seen having a chat with few of them inside the house and thanking them for their support.

 

 The convoy reached the house after passing through several busy areas in the city. It took five and half hours for the convoy to cover a distance of 15 km.

 

 Earlier, Jagan emerged from Chanchalguda Central Jail at 4 p.m. amid tumultuous scenes outside. With folded hands in his trademark style, he greeted hundreds of supporters who had gathered at the main gate to welcome him.

 

 The supporters showered petals on Jagan, who was seen requesting them to make way for his convoy. Jagan sat in a bullet proof vehicle, escorted by several security personnel, who form part of his 'Z' category security.

 

 YSR Congress leaders and activists were accompanying him in cars and bikes. Holding party flags and Jagan's portraits, they were raising slogans of 'Jai Jagan'.

 

 The convoy passed through the busy Malakpet, Nalgonda X Roads, Chaderghat, Koti and Moazzam Jahi Market, Nampally, Lakdi Ka Pul, Khairatabad, Banjara Hills and Jubliee Hills.

 

 At some place enroute, the young leader got down from his vehicle to respond to the supporters' cheers with folded hands. The supporters garlanded him.

 

 A special court Monday granted conditional bail to Jagan in case of owning assets disproportionate to known sources of income. The court has directed him not to leave Hyderabad without court's permission and not to influence the witnesses.

 

 The activity for Jagan's release began Tuesday morning with Jagan's lawyers completing the bail formalities at the court. A personal bond of Rs.2 lakh was executed on behalf of Jagan while two sureties of the like sum were also deposited.

 

 Later, armed with the release orders, Jagan's lawyers reached the jail. The jail authorities released the YSR Congress leader after some formalities.

 

 The son of late chief minister Rajasekhara Reddy was arrested by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in May last year.

 

 The investigating agency has filed 10 charge sheets against Jagan, four state ministers, IAS officials and businessmen.

 

IANS