CBI to probe Naidu's assets

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Monday ordered a preliminary probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and other statutory agencies into the allegations of illegal amassment of wealth, corruption and abuse of power among other counts against former chief minister and Opposition Telugu Desam Party president N Chandrababu Naidu.

The court also ordered a probe into the assets of 12 others, including Naidu's wife Bhuvaneshari and his son Nara Lokesh apart from media baron Ch Ramoji Rao and half a dozen businessmen alleged to have close association with Naidu.

The division bench comprising acting Chief Justice Ghulam Mohammed and Justice Nooty Ramamohan Rao delivered the orders asking CBI, Enforcement Directorate (ED) and Securities and Exchanges Board of India (Sebi) to file their preliminary inquiry reports within three months.

The court gave these orders while admitting a public interest litigation (PIL) filed against Naidu, his family members, their companies and others by former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy’s wife Vijaya on October 17.

The bench said, “we are of the opinion that the petitioner made out a case of misuse and/ or abuse of power and also actions of indulgence by respondent No. 8 (Naidu) warranting admission of the writ petition.”

YSR’s widow filed a 109-page writ petition along with supporting documents running into 2,000-odd pages with allegations involving a number of instances of alleged corruption and misuse of power against Naidu during his entire political career right from when he was a minister in the Congress government to his nine-year stint as chief minister that ended in 2004.

Naidu said he would consult legal experts about court ordering a probe before giving a notice to him.