(Rpt, Deleting matter in last para)

New Delhi, Feb 9 (UNI) Eenadu chairman Ramoji Rao has challenged the Andhra Pradesh High Court order deleting the name of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Dr Rajshekhara Reddy from the list of respondents, in a petition challenging the government order ordering an investigation into the financial irregularties of his Chit Fund company.

Ramoji Rao had filed a writ petition in the High Court seeking stay of investigation ordered by the Congress government in the state into the financial irregularties of M/S Margdarshi Chit Fund, a company owned by the petitioner, on the ground that the petitioner was victimised for exposing corruption in the state government.

The High Court, in its order dated January 25, 2007, had issued notices to Andhra Pradesh but had deleted the name of the Chief Minister who was arrayed as respondent number 2.

The petitioner has alleged that an inquiry has been ordered by the state government with malafide intentions to create panic among the investors.

According to the petitioner, a campaign of villifaction has been launched by the state Congress leadership to put pressure on him to stop exposing corruption and the misdeeds of the present state government and such action on the part of the government at the behest of the Chief Minister violates his fundamental right of freedom of speech and expression as mediaman.

The petition also alleged that violent demonstrations have been held by Congress workers against him and his effigies have also been burnt.

The petitioner has also asked for the stay of the two state governments orders ordering investigation into the alleged financial irregularties of the Chit Fund company which has a large number of investors in the state.

The petitioner has also alleged that a canard was being spread against him alleging that the Chit Fund company was running into heavy losses of about Rs 1,200 crore while the true position is that the company is doing well.

The government has asked for all the documents of the company like balancesheet and list of investors.

UNI