Amaravati, November 24, 2025 – The Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, has come under sharp scrutiny for disbursing a whopping ₹2.86 crore in public funds to Delhi-based Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, ostensibly for legal representation in high-stakes cases against opposition YSRCP leaders. While official records reveal the total payout, revelations of a staggering ₹75 lakh fee for a single day's appearance have ignited debates on fiscal prudence and the optics of engaging a lawyer with deep ties to the TDP leadership.
The payments, detailed in government ledgers accessed by media outlets, cover services rendered in four criminal petitions before the Andhra Pradesh High Court. These include the 2024 attack on the TDP headquarters in Mangalagiri, a clash outside Naidu's residence in Tadepalli, and an alleged custodial torture case involving former YSRCP MP and current Assembly Deputy Speaker V. Vijayasai Reddy's associate, Raghurama Krishna Raju. The breakdown shows ₹1.25 crore allocated solely to the Mangalagiri case – comprising ₹75 lakh for one day of courtroom arguments and ₹50 lakh for two additional High Court appearances. Another ₹60 lakh went towards the Tadepalli clash proceedings, ₹65 lakh for the Raju matter, and ₹26 lakh as clerkage fees.
Critics, primarily from the opposition YSRCP, have slammed the expenditure as "lavish and politically motivated," arguing it drains taxpayer money to target rivals. YSRCP spokesperson and former minister P. Venkateswara Rao questioned the necessity of such exorbitant rates, stating, "When senior advocates typically charge ₹10-20 lakh per appearance in the Supreme Court, why is the state footing a bill that rivals corporate retainers? This isn't justice; it's vendetta funded by public coffers." The party's Europe wing echoed this on social media, labeling the fee "staggering" and calling for an audit.
Luthra, a seasoned Supreme Court advocate known for representing Naidu in his 2023 Skill Development Corporation scam case, has a professional history with the TDP chief that dates back years. Legal circles note that while top seniors can command fees upwards of ₹10 lakh daily for complex matters, the ₹75 lakh single-day charge here – equivalent to over seven times the standard rate cited in legal forums – raises eyebrows about transparency in fee fixation. The government defended the outlay as "essential for robust legal defense in politically charged litigations," but declined to disclose a per diem breakdown beyond the totals.
This controversy erupts amid ongoing judicial battles between the TDP-led coalition and YSRCP remnants, with the High Court yet to deliver verdicts in these petitions. As Andhra Pradesh grapples with post-flood recovery and budget constraints, the Luthra payout underscores tensions over judicial funding. "Public money must serve public interest, not personal feuds," Rao added, urging the state assembly to probe the engagements.
No response was immediately available from Luthra's office, which in October issued a statement on unrelated AP liquor case bail dismissals, reaffirming commitment to ethical practice. As whispers of similar high-value contracts surface, the episode spotlights the fine line between securing elite legal talent and ensuring accountability in state expenditures.
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