Amaravati Land Scam: Supreme Court issues stay on High Court's gag order on media

The Supreme Court on Wednesday has stayed the gag order issued by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in connection with the Amravati land scam case. The apex court adjourned the case till the end of January and directed that the case not be finalized till then. It is learnt that the Andhra Pradesh government has filed a special leave petition challenging the High Court gag order on media in the Amravati land scam case.

A three-judge bench headed by Ashok Bhushan heard the case on Wednesday. Rajeev Dhavan, Senior Advocate on behalf of the AP Government made arguments on the occasion. While senior advocates Harish Salve and Mukul Rohatgi appeared on behalf of the former Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas.

It is said that Srinivas worked as an AG in the previous government hence he was targeted. They argued that there was no illegality in buying land in an announced capital of Andhra Pradesh. However, the bench has questioned as to why these orders were issued without the petition being filed. "How do these orders apply only to 13 people if the former Advocate General goes to court? Why the details of the case were not disclosed," the Bench asked.

Therefore, the bench issued stay on a gag order issued by the Andhra Pradesh High court. On the other, the Supreme Court had not made any comments over the stay order issued by the high court on the investigation into the FIR registered for Amaravati land scam.