Legal earthquake in Andhra Pradesh: CM Jagan Mohan Reddy gets Supreme Court notice

In a sensational twist, the Supreme Court served a notice to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, the CBI, and others on Friday, setting the stage for a high-stakes legal battle. The notice is part of a hearing on a plea for the cancellation of bail granted to the AP CM in a notorious disproportionate assets (DA) case.

The Legal Showdown: Rebel MP’s Challenge to AP CM

The division bench, comprising Justices Abhay S. Oka and Pankaj Mithal, heard the special leave petition filed by YSRC rebel MP K. Raghurama Krishna Raju. The petitioner’s counsels, Balaji Srinivasan and Rohan Dewan, fiercely challenged the validity of Telangana High Court’s orders, arguing that the bail granted to Jagan Mohan Reddy should be revoked.

Supreme Court Issues Notice to Andhra Pradesh CM YS Jagan Mohan Reddy in Disproportionate Assets Case. Photo courtesy of Naani Kanchanapalli/Wikimedia Commons.

Accusations of Legal Manipulation and Dormant Trials

The counsels argued that the order issued on October 28 was mechanical and overlooked the accused’s breach of bail conditions, including failure to appear in criminal trials. The petitioner accused the AP Chief Minister of ensuring that the trials against him remained dormant, highlighting a decade-long delay with no charges framed.

Supreme Court’s Strategic Directive: Tagging with Pending Petition

Adding to the legal drama, the Supreme Court ordered the present plea to be tagged with a pending petition seeking the transfer of the trial outside Hyderabad, preferably to Delhi. The case is set for its next hearing in the first week of January next year, intensifying the legal scrutiny on the AP CM.

Responses from AP CM and CBI

Both the AP Chief Minister and the CBI have sent their responses to the plea in the Supreme Court for the transfer of the trial case, adding another layer to this high-profile legal saga.