*New Delhi :- In a significant development today, the Supreme Court has issued a notice returnable after four weeks in response to a petition seeking the transfer of an impending trial in the 2015 cash-for-votes case involving the Chief Minister of Telangana, A Revanth Reddy. The petition underscores the necessity for a fair and unbiased trial and appeals for the relocation of the case to Bhopal, Madhya Pradesh.
Former ministers, including the former deputy Chief Minister, have filed the petition, represented by senior advocates Siddarth Dave and Dama Seshadri Naidu, with Advocate-On-Record P. Mohit Rao filing the petition. The matter was brought before Justices B.R. Gavai and Sandeep Mehta.
The cases under scrutiny, The State of Telangana through Addl. Superintendent of Police Vs. A. Revanth Reddy & Ors. and The State of Telangana through Addl. Superintendent of Police Vs. Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, are currently awaiting trial before a Special judge in Telangana.
The crux of the petition revolves around allegations that Reddy offered a bribe of Rs. 50 Lakhs to MLA Elvis Stephenson during the 2015 elections to the Telangana MLC, allegedly under the direction of his former superior, Nara Chandra Babu Naidu, the former Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. The petitioners contend that the accused were caught red-handed by the Anti-corruption Bureau but express concerns about a fair trial due to the accused’s influential position as Telangana’s Chief and Home Minister.
The petitioners further highlight a history of intimidation and obstruction of justice, including obtaining stays in court proceedings since 2015, which have hindered the progress of the trial. They argue that the accused’s ability to influence both the complainant and officials necessitates a transfer of the trial to Madhya Pradesh to ensure impartiality.
With the case titled Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy and ors v. State of Telangana and ors., Diary No. 4895-2024, this petition brings to light a critical legal battle at the intersection of politics and justice, capturing the attention of the nation.
