The Supreme Court on Monday dismissed a petition moved by the Andhra Pradesh government challenging the anticipatory bail granted to TDP chief and former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the Amaravati Inner Ring Road scam case.
A bench comprising Justice Sanjiv Khanna and Justice Dipankar Datta dismissed the petition of the Andhra Pradesh government in which it challenged the high court order of January 10 giving relief to Chandrababu Naidu.
The Supreme Court bench noted that an appeal in the case arising from the same first information report (FIR) involving other accused, was already dismissed by the court last year. The bench added that in view of the earlier order passed by the court, they are not inclined to entertain the appeal of the state government.
Dismissing the plea, the bench pronounced that considering the aforesaid position, they are not inclined to issue notice in the present Special Leave Petition. The bench added that the same is disposed of in terms of order passed in other Special Leave Petitions. The court further clarified that the observation made in impugned order would not affect the investigation, adding that if the respondent did not cooperate, the petitioner would be at liberty to move for cancellation of the bail.
The Andhra Pradesh government in its plea questioned the validity of the High Court’s order for it has not only conducted a mini trial but has also completely erred rendering findings which are completely contrary to the record. The state government further added that the High Court has exceeded its jurisdiction, which ought not to be allowed. The government also claimed that the present scam is of a complicated nature involving large magnitudes of documentary and oral testimony.
The Inner Ring Road scam case relates to manipulating the master plan of Amaravati capital city, alignment of the Inner Ring Road and the seed capital to allegedly offer undue enrichment to multiple companies during Chandrababu Naidu’s tenure as the chief minister.