The Andhra Pradesh High Court has quashed the FIR registered against former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and former Municipal Administration Minister Ponguru Narayana in connection with the Amaravati land pooling scheme. Holding that the criminal case could not be sustained in law, the Court found that the allegations did not disclose any cognizable offence and that the prosecution was legally unsustainable.
The judgment was delivered by Justice Dr. Y. Lakshmana Rao on 15 July 2026 in Criminal Petition Nos. 1762 and 1763 of 2021.
Background of the Case
The case arose from Crime No. 5 of 2021, registered by the CID Police Station, Amaravathi, based on a complaint filed by former MLA Alla Rama Krishna Reddy. The complaint alleged irregularities in the implementation of the Amaravati land pooling scheme and challenged the issuance of G.O. Ms. No. 41 dated 17 February 2016, which amended rules governing assigned lands within the capital region.
Naidu and Narayana, who were serving as Chief Minister and Municipal Administration Minister during the relevant period, approached the High Court seeking quashing of the FIR. They argued that the allegations were based entirely on governmental policy decisions taken under statutory powers and could not be converted into criminal offences.
Court's Observations
After examining the FIR, statutory provisions and the material placed before it, the High Court concluded that the criminal proceedings could not continue.
The bench observed that the allegations essentially sought to criminalise policy decisions taken by a democratically elected government while exercising its legislative and executive powers.
"The FIR, on its own averments, does not disclose any cognizable offence against the Petitioners," the Court observed while analysing the scope of its powers under Section 482 of the Code of Criminal Procedure.
The Court also noted that the complaint had not been filed by any farmer who had allegedly suffered loss. Instead, it was initiated by a political opponent, while none of the persons whose lands were said to be affected had approached the authorities with any grievance.
The judgment further recorded that more than 76 witnesses examined during the investigation consistently stated that they had voluntarily participated in the land pooling scheme, weakening the allegations of coercion or unlawful dispossession. The Court found that essential ingredients of the offences invoked under the IPC, the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Assigned Lands Act were not made out on the facts presented.
Court's Decision
Allowing both criminal petitions, Justice Dr. Y. Lakshmana Rao held that the FIR suffered from legal defects, lacked specific allegations against the petitioners in their individual capacities and attempted to convert official governmental actions into criminal misconduct.
"The FIR in Crime No.05 of 2021 does not stand on firm legal ground because the allegations essentially try to treat official acts, carried out under constitutional and statutory authority, as criminal offences," the Court said.
Accordingly, the High Court allowed the petitions and quashed the proceedings in Crime No. 5 of 2021 in their entirety against both N. Chandrababu Naidu and Ponguru Narayana, bringing the criminal proceedings against them to an end.
Case Details
Case Title: Nara Chandra Babu Naidu , Ponguru Narayana v. State of Andhra Pradesh & Another
Case Number: Criminal Petition Nos. 1762 & 1763 of 2021
Judge: Justice Dr. Y. Lakshmana Rao
Decision Date: 15 July 2026
