AP HC hears plea for transferring cases against CM Naidu to CBI

Vijayawada: The Andhra Pradesh High Court heard on Wednesday a petition seeking transfer of cases booked against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and others to CBI and Enforcement Directorate. The court served notices to the state government to file its counters.

A two judge division bench comprising Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Cheemalapati Ravi heard the PIL filed by Kottu Bal Gangadhar Tilak here on Wednesday. The petition stated that as Naidu is involved in scams like skill development, liquor, AP fibernet, assigned lands, sand, inner ring road and others, it will not be possible for the state investigation agencies AP police to hold a fair trial against him.

The petitioner thus sought that these cases be handed over to CBI and ED for a fair probe.

Petitioner’s senior counsel Sripada Prabhakar sought to point out that Chandrababu Naidu has announced review of the cases booked against him. He underlined that this is a matter of great concern.

Supreme Court senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the state government, raised apprehensions on the credibility of the petitioner. He said there are 114 respondents in the case.

The High Court directed the state government to file its counter on its objections to admissibility of the petition for hearing.

Advocate general Dammalapati Srinivas informed the court that they would file a counter initially on admissibility of the petition itself, followed by a counter on other issues.

However, the High Court directed that the state government file the counter on all issues at a time.

The court posted the next hearing to September 11.