The previous YCP administration in Andhra Pradesh had repeatedly targeted Chandrababu Naidu over the Amaravati land pooling scheme. The allegations led to a prolonged legal and political battle over the capital project.
The YCP government had alleged irregularities in the land pooling process and launched a campaign against Chandrababu Naidu and his government. The matter also resulted in criminal proceedings and multiple legal challenges.
However, the latest development has come as a major relief for Chandrababu Naidu and Ponguru Narayana. The Supreme Court on Friday dismissed a petition challenging the Andhra Pradesh High Court judgment that had quashed the 2021 criminal case against them over alleged irregularities in the Amaravati land pooling scheme.
The Supreme Court refused to interfere with the High Court’s decision to quash the case. The development means the challenge against the High Court order has now been rejected by the country’s highest court.
The case had involved allegations of irregularities in the land pooling scheme for Amaravati. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had earlier quashed the criminal case against Chandrababu Naidu and Ponguru Narayana.
For the TDP and Chandrababu Naidu, the Supreme Court’s latest decision is being viewed as a significant legal relief. It also gives the ruling side an opportunity to argue that the allegations made against the Amaravati land pooling process have not stood the test of judicial scrutiny.
At the same time, the Supreme Court’s decision specifically concerns the challenge to the High Court order quashing the criminal case. It does not by itself establish that every allegation surrounding the Amaravati land pooling process was false or that the entire process was judicially certified as completely transparent.
The latest development is nevertheless a setback for those who pursued the criminal case against Chandrababu Naidu and Ponguru Narayana. The Amaravati land pooling controversy is likely to remain a political talking point in Andhra Pradesh.
