The Supreme Court on Thursday declined to transfer the trial in the Tirupati laddu adulteration case from Andhra Pradesh to a neighbouring State, observing that no case had been made out for such a transfer.
A Bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant and Justice Joymalya Bagchi was hearing a petition filed by Machindra Shantaram Lanke seeking transfer of the trial outside Andhra Pradesh on the ground that the political atmosphere in the State was hostile.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for the petitioners, submitted that Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan had continued making statements about the controversy, despite the investigation finding no animal fat in the ghee. He argued that the statements could prejudice the trial and that the prosecution must be fair.
Mr Dave urged the Court to shift the trial to a neighbouring State where the issue was not so emotive. He also pointed out that the prosecution was being conducted by the CBI, while most of the accused were from North India and the witnesses and alleged victims were from Andhra Pradesh. He submitted:
“
“It is a totally political hostile environment, My Lords. The kind of statements that are being made cause prejudice in my trial. After all, nobody is immune from these statements. The trial will be in a very hostile environment, politically hostile. I am being used in this fight between the politicians, My Lords. The only person who will suffer is me. I am only seeking that the trial be shifted to a neighbouring State, where it is not such an emotive issue. I am not even asking that it be brought here or something, My Lords. After all, it is a CBI prosecution.”
The CJI, however, observed that the Court had already passed an order addressing public statements by political leaders and told the counsel not to be concerned about them. The Bench further remarked that the trial would be decided on the basis of evidence, not statements made by politicians.
Rejecting the transfer plea, the Court ordered: “No case made out to transfer trial. Dismissed.”