YSRC petition against Naidu quashed

The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed YSR Congress honorary president Y S Vijayalakshmi’s petition seeking a CBI probe into the alleged disproportionate assets of former chief minister Chandrababu Naidu.

However, judges T S Thakur and Ibrahim Kalifulla, while refusing to interfere with an AP High Court order, granted liberty to Vijayamma, to approach a “competent court or authority” with her plea.

Acknowledging that the petitioner is a political rival of Naidu, judge Thakur commented, “You are rivals. It’s a no-holds-barred fight between you.” However, the bench said it is not ruling on the merits of the allegations against Naidu in the plea.

The High Court had dismissed Vijayamma’s plea for a probe into Naidu’s wealth on the grounds that it was politically motivated.

Arguing Vijayamma’s appeal against that setback, senior counsel Ram Jethmalani tried to make a case for a CBI probe. “See the practice of the High Court. They rely on a judgment of their own High Court,” he said, trying to point out deficiencies in the High Court order.

But the bench was not convinced. At one stage, Justice Thakur said said, “What prevents you from going and complaining to the Anti-Corruption Bureau?”

Meanwhile, Telugu Desam Party (TDP)  leaders and activists in Hyderabad erupted in joy  and distributed sweets outside their party office.