New Delhi, Feb 21 (UNI) The Supreme Court will hear, on February 23, a petition filed by ETV owner Ramoji Rao challenging the two Andhra Pradesh Government Orders directing a probe into the affairs of his chit funds company Margdarshi Financiers.

Mr Ramoji Rao, in his petition, has alleged that he was being victimised by the Andhra Pradesh government at the instance of Chief Minister Y S Rajashekhar Reddy for exposing corruption in the state govertnment, particularly of the chief minister and his family members.

The petitioner has also contended that as per Reserve Bank of India Report, not even a single investor has complained against the company but the Andhra Pradesh government was trying to create panic among the investors by ordering an enquiry which is nothing but an attempt to browbeat the petitioner and also to gag the media.

The petitioners challenged the Andhra Pradesh High Court judgement which has deleted the state chief minister's name from the list of respondents in the writ petition.

The petitioner has prayed for a stay on the enquiry ordered by the state government till the final disposal of his appeal. The matter was mentioned before a Bench headed by Justice B N Agarwal on February 19 and it will be listed for hearing on February 23.

Enadu chain of newspapers and ETV network has been exposing corruption in the Congress government and party workers have held violent demonstrations against Mr Rao.

UNI