Move HC on CBI probe, SC tells Naidu

NEW DELHI/HYDERABAD: Telugu Desam Party president Chandrababu Naidu received a setback on Wednesday with the Supreme Court declining to interfere in the CBI probe into the alleged disproportionate assets case, but granted him liberty to approach the HC for modification or vacation of its interim order.
A three-judge bench of Justices Dalveer Bhandari, T S Thakur and Deepak Mishra, while declining to stay or grant status quo, told the AP High Court to dispose within 15 days any plea moved by Naidu and others for vacating the Nov 14 order of the HC .“We are not inclined to interfere with the High Court order. The petitioners can move HC for vacating the Nov. 14 interim order,” the bench said.
Passing the order, the SC told the petitioners to go back to HC for redressal of their grievances. “If the petitioners felt that the HC order was not satisfactory then they could approach the SC,” the bench said.
‘SC ruling a blow to Chandrababu Naidu’
Petitioners and co-accused -- Eenadu group chairman Ch Ramoji Rao, Madhucon group of companies chairman Nama Nageshwara Rao, Ritvik group of companies managing director C M Ramesh and Sujana group chairman Y S Chowdary – sought stay on the probe, contending that the high court had not given them notices and that it had not heard their arguments before ordering the CBI probe. Naidu was not among the petitioners but it is clear that he got the co-accused move the Supreme Court. The HC ordered the CBI probe following a petition by YSR Congress leader Vijayamma who made the three industrialists and others as respondents in the illegal assets case.
Meanwhile, the TDP has welcomed the court order. Naidu said court direction has given a chance to the petitioners to explain their version. “It is what we have been asking for. Without giving notice or hearing us, the high court had asked the CBI to submit a report. Now with the Supreme Court’s direction, the HC has to hear the petitioners’ version and give judgment in 15 days. It augurs well for us,” said Naidu while on a tour to East Godavari district.
Ramesh along with Nageshwara Rao expressed confidence that they would get justice in the high court. “We are happy that we can present our version and get justice in the high court,” Ramesh told TOI. Nageshwara Rao said: “Without hearing our arguments, the HC had given an order. Now, we are given an opportunity to present our argument. This is a positive development,” he said.
Sources said the petitioners are preparing to hire top lawyers since Vijayamma had hired Ram Jethmalani to argue the case. They are also preparing a list of their businesses in AP and other states and their track record in the last 20 years. “There was no complaint insofar as my businesses are concerned in last 20 years,” Ramesh added.
TRS reacted strongly saying that SC direction is a blow to Naidu. “Naidu will be proved guilty in the illegal assets case. The SC rejection to provide stay on CBI inquiry in itself is a big blow to Naidu. His true colours will come out soon,” remarked party MLA K Taraka Rama Rao.
Congress MLA Ganta Srinivas Rao said all are equal before the law. “Let Naidu and others face the probe. Anybody in public life should be ready to face any probe,” he said. The YSR Congress asked Naidu to cooperate with the CBI. “When Jagan’s plea was rejected in the Supreme Court, Naidu made several comments. Now, we are demanding him to cooperate with the inquiry and prove his honesty,” said Bajireddy Goverdan, official spokesperson of YSR Congress.
It may be recalled Jagan’s petition, challenging the high court order for a CBI inquiry into his assets, was rejected by the apex court.