HYDERABAD:A public interest litigation was filed in the Hyderabad High Court on Friday seeking transfer of the ongoing Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) probe into the cash-for-vote scam to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Petitioner PV Krishnaiah, a practicing advocate of the High Court, said that there is no possibility of free and fair enquiry as the ACB is under the control of the Telangana government and thus cannot act independently like the CBI in the cash-for-vote case. The video and audio clippings of the case was leaked to TV channels without the knowledge of the ACB, he pointed out.

Referring to defection of members from both the state assemblies and the councils in both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh and pendency in disposing of petitions regarding disqualification of members, he submitted that there is a need to amend the Anti-Defection Law in prescribing time limit for disposal of petitions under the Anti Defection Law by the presiding officers of the respective Houses.

The petitioner sought the Court to grant stay of all further proceedings, including the probe by the ACB, and to direct the state government to transfer the case to the CBI.