Special court orders CBI probe into TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao’s assets
Hyderabad: A special CBI court here directed the CBI on Friday to probe a complaint against Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) chief K Chandrasekhar Rao, the party's Siddipet MLA T Harish Rao and Medak MP M Vijayashanti, alleging that they have amassed wealth through extortion.
Based on a private complainant filed by one Y Balaji Vadera, the court forwarded the matter to Central Bureau of Investigation SP (Hyderabad Zone) under Section 156(3) of the Criminal Procedure Code, with a direction on April 23 to register an FIR and investigate as well as inform the court about the action taken.
CBI officials, meanwhile, said that they would soon approach the Andhra Pradesh High Court against the special CBI court's order as it is not within its powers to order such an investigation.
Along with the complaint filed before the court, Balaji enclosed a compact disc containing a speech of suspended TRS leader M Raghunandan Rao, who levelled charges of extortion of money against the TRS president, his nephew Harish Rao and M Vijayashanti, besides serious allegations of corruption, nepotism and acts of blackmail.
MP from Medak Lok Sabha constituency M Vijayashanti, who was elected on a TRS ticket, is contesting elections from the Medak assembly constituency, after joining the Congress.
Citing allegations levelled by suspended TRS leader Raghunandan Rao, the complainant submitted that, "K Chandrasekhar Rao, with a retinue of his personal relatives as well as other kith and kin, formed the TRS, and started amassing huge wealth, movable and immovable".
Raghunandan Rao's speech accused the TRS leaders of indulging in corrupt practices and amassing disproportionate assets in violation of their duties as public servants.
Rao alleged that the TRS chief, who was allotted land to construct a TRS party office, runs a private limited company (a television news channel) in its building
Based on Raghunandan Rao's allegations, Balaji had approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court earlier. He filed a public interest litigation which was dismissed.
In his complaint, Balaji said that he had also approached the CBI in this regard, but after no action was taken by the central agency, he moved the special CBI court seeking registeration of a case against the TRS chief, Harish Rao and Vijayashanti under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act.
Meanwhile, referring to the court order, CBI officials said here today that they would soon approach the Andhra Pradesh High Court against the special CBI court's order.
"We will approach the High Court against this order stating that this court doesn't have jurisdiction powers to give such an order," they said, adding that high courts and Supreme Court, as well as state and central governments could direct the agency to probe any issue.
