The Andhra Pradesh high court on Monday dismissed a criminal complaint against Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu alleging irregularities in the purchase of liquor by state-owned A P Beverages Corporation.
Justice C Y Somayajulu said complainant, N Krishnakumar Goud, had failed to pinpoint in specific terms the nexus between the accused and the alleged offence. "The complaint was another example of courtroom being used by political parties to settle scores," he said.
Goud is the joint convener of the state Congress unit's legal cell. Acting on his complaint, a Hyderabad court had earlier directed the Anti-Corruption Bureau to investigate the alleged excess payment by AP Beverages Corporation to certain distilleries during 1997-2000 while purchasing liquor.
The order was, however, stayed by the high court.
Naidu accused the opposition Congress of indulging in 'mud-slinging for garnering political mileage'.
"It is typical of their negative brand of politics on the eve of elections," he told reporters.
