Anti-judiciary Remarks: HC Hands Over Case To CBI

The High Court has handed over the case relating to YCP leaders abusing the High Court, Supreme Court judges and the entire judiciary on social media to the CBI and asked the investigating agency to submit its report within 8 weeks. The case was being dealt by the CID in the state so far.

Earlier, the High Court Registrar had directed the CID to arrest the accused in the case thrice but it restricted itself to just filing cases against only 9 persons, even while 99 people, including the Assembly Speaker, Deputy Chief Minister, MPs and MLAs, apart from former MLAs, were served notices in connection with the case.

The HC Registrar himself complained against 19 elected representatives in connection with the case. Surprisingly, the CID sleuths reportedly told the court that many of those accused in the case were not traceable.

The HC also faulted the CID for not arresting the accused even when the sleuths were asked to do so. The High Court took objection to the lackadaisical attitude of the CID and handed over the case to the CBI as it had a wide range of powers like arresting the accused even if they are in a foreign country. Some of the accused in the case, it is learnt, are sitting in other countries and making derogatory and insulting remarks against the judges.

The court adjourned the hearing to December 14, 2020.

A few senior advocates too took exception to the CID authorities being soft towards the accused, as many of them belong to the YCP.

Meanwhile, the opposition parties demanded that the CID-DIG, DGP of AP and home minister should resign to their posts, if they have moral values. They accused the CID sleuths of functioning hand-in-glove with the YCP government and becoming puppets in the politicians’ hands.

“If politicians are criticised on social media, the CID sleuths become alert and arrest those making such comments but remain mute spectators if the judiciary is abused on the same platform. Further, MP Vijayasai Reddy, YCP social media in-charge, appreciates and gives promotions to those criticising the judiciary,” they pointed out.

The lawyers felt that the decision by the High Court to hand over the case to CBI can be considered a historic move because this is the first time that the judiciary is trying to protect its status.