On Wednesday(21st August), YSR Congress leader Alla Ramakrishna Reddy withdrew his petitions from the Supreme Court seeking a CBI probe into the 2015 cash-for-votes scandal and the inclusion of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu as an accused.
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NEW DELHI: YSR Congress Party leader, Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, took a step on Wednesday(21st August), by withdrawing his petitions before the Supreme Court of India. These petitions had sought a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the infamous 2015 cash-for-votes scandal. Additionally, Reddy had also requested the court to issue directions for making Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, N Chandrababu Naidu, an accused in the case.
The petitions were heard by a Bench comprising Justices MM Sundresh and Aravind Kumar, who allowed Reddy to withdraw his plea. This withdrawal marks a critical juncture in a case that has embroiled some of the most prominent political figures in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
Background of the Case
The cash-for-votes scandal dates back to 2015, involving allegations that the current Chief Minister of Telangana, A Revanth Reddy, who was then associated with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), offered a substantial bribe to a nominated Member of Legislative Assembly (MLA), Elvis Stephenson. The amount in question was a staggering Rs.50 lakh, allegedly intended to secure Stephenson’s vote during the 2015 elections to the Telangana Legislative Council.
This bribe was reportedly offered at the behest of Revanth Reddy’s “former boss,” N Chandrababu Naidu, who was the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh at the time. The underlying objective was to either persuade Stephenson to abstain from voting in the crucial MLC elections or to cast his vote in favor of the TDP, thereby influencing the outcome.
The plot thickened as it was further alleged that the Congress leader Revanth Reddy had promised an additional sum of Rs.5 crore to Stephenson after the voting, indicating the high stakes involved in this electoral manipulation.
The legal battle surrounding this case has seen various twists and turns. In February of the same year, the Supreme Court sought the response of the Telangana government to a plea that aimed to transfer the trial against Revanth Reddy to a court outside the state of Telangana. This move was seen as an attempt to ensure an impartial trial, given the political sensitivities and high-profile nature of the case.
Adding to the complexity, the Telangana Chief Minister’s plea seeking closure of the matter is still pending before the Supreme Court. This pending plea indicates that the case is far from over, with significant legal battles still to be fought.
In August 2021, the Supreme Court had once again intervened by seeking the response of the Telangana government in the ongoing case and had even stayed the trial against Revanth Reddy. This stay order reflected the court’s cautious approach in dealing with a case that could have far-reaching political implications.
The legal proceedings saw the involvement of several prominent advocates. Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy, along with advocate Sravan Kumar Saranam, represented the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) before the apex court. Their arguments were pivotal in presenting the case against Revanth Reddy and highlighting the corruption allegations.
On the other hand, Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra appeared for N Chandrababu Naidu, defending the former Chief Minister against the accusations leveled against him. Advocate Siddhant Buxy, representing Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, played a crucial role in the withdrawal of the petitions, marking a significant development in the case.
Alla Ramakrishna Reddy, who was a Member of the Legislative Assembly (MLA) from Andhra Pradesh’s Mangalagiri constituency between 2014 and 2024, has been a vocal critic of Chandrababu Naidu and his administration. The withdrawal of his petitions might be seen as a strategic move in the larger political landscape of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.
It is worth noting that the Mangalagiri constituency is now held by Nara Lokesh, the son of Chandrababu Naidu, indicating the continued influence of the Naidu family in the region’s politics.
