Jagan and Chandrababu are now fighting their proxy war in the High Court. Each is going all out to counter the maneuvers of the other in every possible way. While Chandrababu scored a point by bringing in Mukesh Ambani’s Reliance into the case, developments in the court have moved at a fast and unexpected pace this morning in the HC.
Following Reliance implead petition, Chief Justice Lokur had recused himself from the case. The new bench was to consist of Justice Sanjay Kumar and Jusice Eswaraiah. Sensing that the new bench might be disposed in favour of Naidu, Jagan jumped into action.
His paper Sakshi carried a story today, raising doubts about the trial, given that Justice Eswaraiah family’s association with TDP. Sakshi alleged that Justice Eswaraiah’s wife was a ZPTC member on behalf of TDP, while other members were closely linked to the party.
Jagan’s ploy seems to have worked. Justice Eswaraiah today refused to be on the bench in view of the aspersions cast against him. He posted the case to Monday for a new bench to decide the case.
Vijaya’s lawyer from Delhi Sushil Kumar also pointedly asked the court to post the case before the same bench that heard the original petition by the YSR Congress leader. This bench consisted of Justice Gulam Mohammad and Justice Nooti Ramamohana Rao.
Jagan’s camp believes the original bench would deal with the case in a manner that would provide the relief that they have been seeking.
Sakshi also alleged that TDP ensured that the case did not come before the original bench by invoking the ‘not before’ convention. The TDP had brought in a lawyer, who was declared as ‘not before’ by Justice Nooti Ramamohan Rao. Which means that the Justice would not hear cases handled by the specific lawyer.
This is probably the first time that the courts have become the venue for political slugfest in such high profile cases in the state.
