Ordering one of its most comprehensive inquires, the AP high court on Monday ordered the CBI, the Enforcement Directorate, the state police and the state government to inquire into the alleged acts of “indulgence’ Telugu Desam president N. Chandrababu Naidu during his tenure as chief minister.
The court asked the agencies to submit separate reports of the inquiries within 90 days.
A division bench of acting Chief Justice Ghulam Mohammed and Justice Nooty Ramamohana Rao of gave the interim order while admitting a plea by Ms Y.S. Vijayalakshmi, wife of then chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhar Reddy and mother of YSR Congress leader Jaganmohan Reddy.
The former chief minister and his family members and his associates now face probe under the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988, and Money Laundering Act, 2002. The investigation agencies will look into the allegations against the TD chief in respect of allotment of lands, grant of licenses, and decisions which were taken by him as chief minister. The agencies will also probe Mr Naidu’s actions with regard to disinvestment and in that process allegedly acquiring wealth which was disproportionate to his known sources of income.
The order covers 15 family members and friends of Mr Naidu, including his wife Bhuvaneswari Devi, son Lokesh, the family-run Heritage Foods and Mr Abobila Rao alias Billy Rao of IMG Bharata, media baron Ch. Ramoji Rao and his company Ushodaya Enterprises Pvt Ltd, and Mr Yelamanchili Satyanarayana Chowdhary alias Sujana Chowdhary,
Others whose affairs will come under the scanner include V. Nagaraja Naidu, a distant relative of Mr Naidu, Madhucon Sugar and Power Industries Ltd represented by its founder Nama Nageswara Rao, Lok Sabha member, Maganti Rajababu alias Murali Mohan, film actor-turned-realtor, Karnati Venkateswara Rao, chairman of Kakinada Sea Ports Ltd, and Chintakunta Munuswamy Ramesh alias C.M. Ramesh, chairman of Rithwik group of companies.
The petitioner, Ms Vijayalakshmi, alleged that Mr Nadu had amassed wealth through illegal means and had misused his position as chief minister.
The bench pointed out, “We have bestowed our anxious consideration to the various statements of facts and the legal principles on the subject. We are of the opinion that the petitioner has made out a case of misuse and or abuse of power and also acts of indulgence shown by the former chief minister, warranting admission of this petition.”