Today, Supreme Court judge, Justice SVN Bhatti recused from hearing the petition submitted by former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Naidu's petition had sought to quash the ongoing criminal proceedings against him in relation to a significant skill development scandal that had unfolded in the state, involving multi-crore rupees

The case was scheduled to be heard by a bench consisting of Justices Sanjiv Khanna and SVN Bhatti, the latter being a native of Andhra Pradesh. However, as soon as the proceedings began, Justice Khanna informed Naidu's lawyer, Senior Advocate Harish Salve, that his colleague, Justice Bhatti, had expressed some reservations about presiding over the case.

"We can say nothing about that. Please list it as early as possible", Salve replied. The bench then listed the matter next week.

"Subject to orders of the Hon'ble Chief Justice, the present special leave petition be placed before a bench of which one of which, my brother, is not a member in the week commencing October 3...", Justice Khanna pronounced the order.

Nara Chandrababu Naidu has lodged a special leave petition challenging a recent decision by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The High Court had refused to dismiss a first information report (FIR) that implicated the former chief minister as one of the accused in the skill development scandal. Subsequently, Naidu was taken into custody by the state's crime investigation department on September 9, and he has remained in detention ever since.

Case Details - Nara Chandrababu Naidu v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Anr.

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