The cases involve allegations that in 2015, Reddy offered Rs 50 lakh as bribe to a nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson for his vote in the 2015 elections to the Telangana MLC. “The main accused in the case has become CM; he also has the home ministry with him. So how can we expect a fair trial in the case?” the lawyer for the petitioner told the Supreme Court bench.
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The Supreme Court of India has issued a notice to Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, concerning a plea that seeks the transfer of a criminal trial against him. This trial pertains to the controversial 2015 cash-for-vote scandal, a case that has lingered over Reddy’s political career for years. The plea, advocating for the trial’s relocation from Telangana to Bhopal, underscores concerns about the fairness of the proceedings given Reddy’s current powerful position as both the Chief Minister and the Home Minister of the state.
The bench, comprising Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta, has scheduled the hearing for this case four weeks from now. The urgency of the matter was brought to the forefront by Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, representing the petitioner, who pointed out the potential conflict of interest, stating,
“The main accused in the case has become CM; he also has the home ministry with him. So how can we expect a fair trial in the case?”
This plea was initiated by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Guntakandla Reddy, a former minister, and three others, who argue that a fair trial in Telangana is implausible due to the accused’s current authoritative role. The petitioners fear that Reddy’s influence over the state’s machinery could prejudice the trial’s outcome.
The origins of the case trace back to May 31, 2015, when Revanth Reddy, then a member of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), was apprehended by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly offering a Rs 50 lakh bribe to Elvis Stephenson, a nominated MLA. This bribe was purportedly an advance on a larger sum intended to secure Stephenson’s vote for the TDP nominee in the Legislative Council elections.
Further complicating the legal landscape is another petition by Revanth Reddy, challenging a High Court order from June 1, 2021, which dismissed his plea questioning the jurisdiction of the Special ACB court to conduct the trial. This petition is pending before another bench of the Supreme Court, adding layers to an already complex judicial scrutiny.
The petitioners have highlighted Reddy’s alleged attempts to influence the legal process, citing his “rich criminal background” with “88 pending cases” and instances where he purportedly threatened senior police officers. These allegations paint a picture of a political figure wielding his power to sway the proceedings of a case that has significant implications for his career and the broader political landscape of Telangana.
As the Supreme Court gears up to delve into this plea, the case against Revanth Reddy in the cash-for-vote scandal remains a focal point of legal and political discourse. The outcome of this plea could not only influence the trajectory of Reddy’s political journey but also set a precedent for how cases involving high-profile politicians are handled in the Indian judicial system.
CASE TITLE:
Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy and ors v. State of Telangana and ors
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