Jagan’s Media Sakshi and AP State Action ‘Congress High Command’ Rules Over CBI Vitiating Rule of Law

Abstract

Rule of law demands equal treatment such as complaints revealing cognizable offense should be investigated and prosecution should follow even when the complaint is against a member of Parliament or a VVIP or a son of a former Chief Minister. The disproportionate assets case and charge of receiving benefits from Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, who happened to his father, were probed into against Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, MP from Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh India. In the process of investigation, the CBI has chosen to freeze accounts of Sakshi TV and Newspaper belonging to YS Jaganmohan Reddy as it was prima facie proved that illegal investments were made into the company which brings out these two media publications. It was also alleged that these investments were made into the companies floated by Jaganmohan Reddy as quid pro quo for the favourable allocation of state resources such as land etc by his father YS Rajasekhar Reddy when he was Chief Minister between 2004-2009. But the timing and 'selective' use of CBI gave rise to suspicion that ruling Congress party has political motives to stifle voice of Sakshi which is running a campaign against Congress and extensively writing in favor of YSR party floated by Jaganmohan Reddy. Immediately after this, AP Government stopped giving advertisements to Sakshi tv and newspaper, another jolt to the rival political party and media. Delay in freezing accounts, selecting a time when AP is going to byelections for 17 seats in State Assembly and one MP in June 2012, and action of state stopping of ads confirm the political motive to cripple the media of Jaganmohan Reddy. The article discusses the rule of law, use of power, misuse of power and motive to snub the voice of media in the guise of enforcing rule of law with relevant case law. It advocates independent CBI probe and avoiding political motives in dealing with media especially when owned by rival political party.