The Supreme Court on Wednesday restrained the Andhra Pradesh government from transferring funds from the State Disaster Response Force (SDRF) to personal deposit accounts.

A bench of Justices M.R. Shah and B.V. Nagarathna said this was a serious issue and issued notice to the state government.

Advocate Gaurav Bansal, appearing for petitioner Palla Srinivasa Rao, submitted that Andhra Pradesh had diverted funds from the SDRF to personal deposit accounts.

“At a time when the court is actively and continuously monitoring the implementation of its order dealing with the issue of disbursing of ex-gratia assistance of Rs 50,000 to next of kin of those died due to Covid-19…, the act of Andhra Pradesh… is not only against the law of the land but is also contemptuous is nature,” the plea submitted.