The AP High Court has asked Delhi-based lawyer Mehak Maheshwari, who filed a PIL seeking an investigation by a retired Supreme Court judge into former CM Jaganmohan Reddy for looting natural resources and causing a loss of lakhs of crores of rupees to the government exchequer. The court said that the AP government has already formed an SIT and questioned petitioner/lawyer Mehak Maheshwari about the need to form an SIT with officials of central agencies.
It said that it cannot be investigated based on the white paper released by the government. It stated that the Supreme Court has said that a CBI investigation should be ordered only in special cases. The court asked petitioner/lawyer Mehak Maheshwari how she believes that the SIT constituted by the AP government is taking a soft approach? Do you think they are showing generosity towards the former CM?
Responding to this, Mehak Maheshwari told the High Court that the state government institutions do not have the capacity to investigate the case. It was stated that this scam involving thousands of crores may have spread to other states and countries. In this context, the bench responded and asked how you are saying that? Is there any evidence? Mehak Maheshwari was questioned.
The High Court said that they are not satisfied with the manner in which the PIL was filed. It concluded that at this stage, notices cannot even be given to the respondents. Mehak Maheshwari made arguments in the earlier hearing and said that the coalition government had released white papers in the Assembly on the corruption that took place during the YSRCP regime. The court was asked to conduct an investigation by an SIT.
The bench commented that it was surprising to see a busy lawyer like you filing such a petition and coming from Delhi to present arguments. It directly asked Mehak Maheshwari what your connection is with this matter? In response, Mehak Maheshwari told the High Court that the investigation has been going on in the liquor scam case for the past year, but the former Chief Minister has not been included as an accused in the charge sheet so far.
In response, Special Government Counsel (SGP) Pranathi said that the SIT has already been constituted and asked for time to place the full details before the court. After hearing arguments from both sides, a bench comprising Chief Justice of the High Court, Justice Dheeraj Singh Thakur and Justice Chimalapati Ravi, directed Special Government Advocate (SGP) S. Pranathi to submit details to this effect. Later, it was announced that the hearing would be adjourned to February 11, 2026.