The Supreme Court’s Friday order for a new “independent” Special Investigation Team (SIT), monitored by the Director of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has practically created cheers among YCP leadership, which was in panic when the Chandrababu Naidu government constituted a SIT for an intense probe.
Former chief minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy and other YCP leaders worried about state police investigation and swung into action to transfer the probe to the central agencies. From the day one, Jaganmohan Reddy has been demanding a court-monitored probe, which was rejected by the Supreme Court. He also demanded a probe by the CBI.
YCP Rajya Sabha member and former TTD chairman YV Subba Reddy even without waiting for the fate of his petition filed in the High Court rushed to the Supreme Court. He was joined by former union minister Dr Subramanian Swamy.
It may be interesting to note that the top court verdict was based on the recommendation made by the Solicitor General Tushar Mehta. By suggesting involvement of the Center in the probe, he practically supported Jaganmohan Reddy’s plea. Thus, he became instrumental in taking away the probe from the state police, though both TDP and Jana Sena are crucial players in the survival of Narendra Modi government.
Responding to Apex Court’s question, if the probe into the state government’s allegations should be transferred to an independent agency?, Mehta in a clever move without making any adverse comments on the AP Police SIT, insisted that it should have an all-India perspective.
On Friday, Mehta told the bench, “I had examined the issue. One thing is very clear. If there is any element of truth in this allegation, it is unacceptable… The devotees are spread across the world. The Food Safety Act is also involved… I did not find anything against the members of the SIT. They are competent and qualified to do their job. Let them be supervised by some senior officer of the central government police force, who is senior to members of the SIT. There will be an all-India perspective… that would I think inspire confidence and the investigation can go on.”
