Jagan approaches Supreme court against HC order

Jaganmohan Reddy, YSR party president and Kadapa MP, on Tuesday approached the Supreme Court challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court decision to order a CBI probe into his assets.

Reddy contested that the HC did not follow principles of natural justice, and directed the CBI investigation without giving any reasoned decision but merely on a general remark that “glaring illegalities writ large” in his affairs.

“It is clear that the rival parties — the Congress and the TDP — are unnerved by the growing popularity of the petitioner (Jagan) and are seeking to gain political capital by attempting to sully his image and that of his very popular late father. It is humbly submitted that the court cannot allow itself to become the battleground of petty politics,” the petition filed with the SC registry through senior advocate KK Venugopal said.

Jagan pointed out that the High Court’s conduct was against the spirit of the Supreme Court direction on July 22 that his case should be handled as per the principles of natural justice.

The SC had then dismissed a petition filed on behalf of Jagathi Publications, Bharathi Cements and Matrix Laboratories against an Andhra Pradesh High Court order giving CBI two weeks to submit a preliminary report into allegations that Jagan “amassed public money” during his father and former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s tenure and, thus, violated the law.

Instead, Jagan contends that the CBI went on to file its preliminary report in a sealed cover with the C, and this was not shared with him. The High Court had proceeded to peruse the CBI report and unilaterally, without giving any reasons to justify its orders, directed the CBI to register a case and launch the probe.

 “It is submitted that this is a grave violation of the principle of natural justice that justice must not only be done but also be seen to be done, apart from being a direct violation of the Supreme Court’s order,” the petition said.