Hyderabad: Andhra Pradesh High Court today (Dec 22, 2003) quashed a criminal complaint filed by a Congress functionary against 18 accused, including Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and two of his former Cabinet colleagues, in the 'liquor purchase scam'.

Justice C Y Somayajulu observed that the petitioners, Krishna Kumar Goud and a practicising advocate, had failed to establish a direct nexus between offence and the accused.

Earlier a city court has directed the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) to investigate into the alleged excess payment to the tune of Rs 500 crore to certain distilleries during 1997-2000 while purchasing liquor by State owned Beverages Corporation.

The order, was however, stayed by High Court on December 15.

"The complaint was another example of the courtroom being used by political parties to vent their grievances," the Judge commented while quashing the order.