The Supreme Court has declined to grant relief to YSR Congress Party founder Jaganmohan Reddy, who questioned an interim order of the Andhra Pradesh High Court directing a preliminary enquiry by the Central Bureau of Investigation into his alleged ill-gotten wealth.
Acting on a batch of petitions from P. Shankar Rao and others, the High Court on July 12 directed the CBI to conduct the enquiry into the wealth of Mr. Reddy earned from 2004 onwards and submit a report in two weeks.
On Friday, a Bench of Justices Dalveer Bhandari and Deepak Verma said: “These special leave petitions are directed against the interim order of the High Court. We are not inclined to interfere as these petitions are devoid of any merit. In case the [High] court wants to proceed against the petitioner, the principles of natural justice have to be complied with. Petitions dismissed.”
‘Reputation damaged'
Earlier, senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for the Kadapa MP, said this was a case of political battle fought in court. “It is a political vendetta between two political parties. The High Court, on the basis of two letters written by a rival political leader, had directed the CBI to conduct a preliminary enquiry without any application of mind and without any material. My [Reddy's] entire reputation has been tarnished. I am seriously prejudiced as my rights under Article 21 of the Constitution (right to life and liberty) are infringed.”
Justice Bhandari told counsel: “This is only an interim order. Is the High Court denuded of powers under Article 226 to order a preliminary enquiry? The High Court has only asked for a report, in a sealed cover, for its satisfaction. You may even be exonerated. If there is substance in the report, the law will take its own course, otherwise it can throw out the petition.”
Senior counsel Amarendra Saran also appeared for Mr. Reddy.
