Media gag order on Amaravati land scam unfortunate: Sajjala

Amaravati: Terming the Andhra Pradesh High Court's gag order on the FIR in the Amaravati land scam as unfortunate, Sajjala Ramkrishna Reddy, the advisor to the government (public affairs), said stalling the probe in the initial stage was unprecedented and beyond comprehension.

The High Court has issued an injunction against any media reporting of the FIR filed in connection with the case registered by the Andhra Pradesh anti-corruption bureau against several people who allegedly abused their position to buy land in Amaravati.

Mr. Reddy clarified that the FIR was filed by an independent body upon having conclusive evidence against the accused and those involved in the scam. But the court didn’t seem to consider them on the plea of the petitioner that the government was vindictive. “We are not vindictive towards the Opposition party leaders and thus we requested a fair investigation by the CBI. The High Court orders were surprising,” he added.

Mr. Reddy said that Chief Minister Y.S Jagan Mohan Reddy had raised the issue of the Amaravati land scam even when he was in the Opposition and the investigation was done by an independent agency on the basis of which the FIR was registered.

He also alleged that some influential people were behind the gag order. “No sooner was the FIR registered, that the court was moved immediately, and the gag order was passed in quick succession which seems that influential people are at work. While our plea for a CBI probe was rejected, the TDP leaders could get a stay on government orders and surprisingly the TDP leaders had even foretold the stay,” he said, adding that they will move the apex court.

“A known TDP activist-turned-advocate-general and kin of an influential person must have figured out the merits of the investigation but stalling the probe in the initial stage is unprecedented,” he said, adding that this is not just a gag on media but it is a gag on institutions and on the system.

He said that the stay came on another petition filed by TDP leaders Varla Ramaiah and Alapati Raja on the constitution of SIT on Amaravati land scam. In regard to this, he questioned how the TDP leaders knew about the judgment a day earlier.

Regarding the missing silver idols at Kanaka Durga temple, Mr. Reddy said the Opposition TDP leaders are planning a conspiracy and they are behind the series of incidents taking place across the state. He said that TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu has been trying to create communal clashes and religious conflicts to divert the public from the land scam issue.