SC dismisses Vijayamma's petition seeking probe against Naidu

In a major setback to Ysr Congress Party honorary president and Pulivendula MLA Y S Vijayamma, the Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a Special Leave petition filed by her against former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu seeking the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the alleged disproportionate assets.

While quashing the petition, a division bench of the Supreme Court observed that the dismissal of petition against Naidu does not mean that the apex court was giving clean chit to him from the investigations. Noted criminal lawyer Ram Jethmalani and Mukul Rohatgi argued on behalf of Vijayamma while Harish Salve and A K Ganli represented Reliance and Anil Diwan argued for media baron Ramoji Rao.

After hearing the arguments and counter arguments over the probe, the bench observed that there was political rivalry and the present writ petition appeared to be a counter attack. The petition amounted to abuse of process of court under the guise of SLP and warned Vijayamma saying that she has not complained any authority before she actually filing a PIL in the High Court which was dismissed in Feb 2012.

The court directed Vijayamma to lodge a complaint with the CBI, Enforcement Directorate or other investigating agencies seeking justice and Naidu doling out several favours to select corporate houses and amassing of huge wealth. The court also directed Vijayamma to lodge a complaint with the investigation agencies with substantial evidence.

It may be recalled that Vijayamma filed a petition before the Supreme Court challenging the AP High Court's decision to dismiss her plea for an inquiry by CBI and other central agencies into alleged disproportionate assets of former chief minister and TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu and others.

Vijayamma, in her 45-pages petition before the Apex Court, asked whether it was appropriate for the HC bench to dismiss her petition when another bench had earlier ordered an enquiry into the issue.