HC dismisses plea against Naidu

Telegu Desum Party chief Chandrababu Naidu got a breather on Thursday after the Andhra Pradesh High Court dismissed a PIL filed against him by Vijayamma, widow of former chief minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

A bench of justices G Rohini and Ashutosh Mehta said  Vijayamma’s petition violated the
“principles of natural justice” and was politically motivated.
Vijayamma had filed a petition in October last year, seeking a CBI probe into the wealth amassed by Naidu. Subsequently, a bench headed by Justice Ahmed Kukru had ordered a CBI probe.

The case was shunted by several benches before the bench headed by Justice Rohini took charge.

The bench had stayed the CBI preliminary probe after hearing both sides. It may be recalled that  Vijayamma had faced similar rebuttal in the Supreme Court where she had filed an affidavit seeking transfer of the trial to any court outside Andhra Pradesh.
TDP supporters rejoiced and celebrated sweets in the state Assembly.

While, TDP cadres celebrated the news by distributing sweets in the state Assembly, Chandrababu Naidu said despite the Congress governments in the state lodging 35 cases against him over the years, he has not been indicted on a single occasion.

“I have built a reputation in the last 30 years.The YSR Congress can’t put a blemish on it,” Naidu said.

On the other hand, YSR Congress spokesperson Shobha Nagi Reddy said: “It is surprising that a CBI probe was slapped on Jaganmohan Reddy based on a two page letter by
Congress minister Shankar Rao, while Naidu was left scot free even after submitting a detailed complaint by YSR Congress party head Vijayamma.”