The Andhra Pradesh high court on Tuesday ordered a CBI probe against home minister Sabita Indra Reddy and prohibition and excise minister M. Venkata Ramana based on allegations made by their own Cabinet colleague, handlooms and textile minister P. Shankar Rao.
Dr Rao had alleged that the two ministers were indulging in corrupt practices and huge amounts were changing hands in the matter of transfer of officers.
Justice L. Narasimha Reddy, after taking cognisance of the allegations by Dr Rao against his Cabinet colleagues in a press conference here on Monday, directed the CBI to investigate into the allegations.
It may be recalled that a division bench of the high court had ordered CBI probes into the assets of the Kadapa MP, Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, and the alleged irregularities in the Emaar land deal based on two letters sent by Dr Rao to the chief justice.
This is, however, the first instance wherein the court has ordered a CBI probe into the affairs of two ministers of the state Cabinet. “This is a rare instance wherein one Cabinet minister has made serious allegations against two ministers of the same Cabinet, and expressed the view that the chief minister should not support the corrupt minister and officers. If the allegations of corruption or any part of them are true, serious action is warranted in accordance with the law,” the judge said.
He further observed: “If they are not proved, the dignity and integrity of the ministers and officers against whom allegations are made would be restored and the person who made such allegations would become liable to be proceeded against for civil and criminal offences.”
The court said that the minister not only named his Cabinet colleagues, but had also alleged that Ms Sabita Reddy and her family members and some highly-placed officers in the home department were involved in the corrupt activities.
The court also pointed out that similar allegations had been made against Mr Ramana.
The court also cited the remarks of the handlooms and textile minister that if the chief minister did not take any action in the matter by October 2, he would tender his resignation.
“In a democracy, it does not augur well that allegations made against ministers by none other than another Cabinet colleague are not verified and investigated. The confidence of the people in the system would be eroded if the matter was left at that. Therefore, the matter deserves to be treated as taken up by this court,” said the judge.
Justice Narasimha Reddy ordered the registry to make the two ministers, the CBI and also Dr Rao as parties in the taken-up petition and directed Dr Rao to furnish additional material facts, paving the way for effective investigation and further steps.