Hyderabad: The war between Telangana Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has taken an interesting turn with the HC granting bail to TDP MLA A. Revanth Reddy.
With the latest development, Mr Naidu now has the upper hand after losing the initial battle. While Mr Naidu was pushed to a corner following the arrest of Mr Reddy and exposure of videotape and audiotape, pointing a finger at him as the “boss” in the scam, all other developments, mostly in courts, went against Mr Rao.
Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau still grapples to find proof
Even a month after the scam broke out, the Anti-Corruption Bureau has failed to proceed in the case. There is no significant progress in investigation, be it tracing the origin of the Rs 50 lakh bribe paid by Mr Revanth Reddy to nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson or establishing the role of Mr Naidu in the case.
In a big blow to the TRS, on June 29, the High Court took a serious note on the recuse petition filed by Mr Stephenson and issued a contempt notice against him while dismissing his plea. ACB has also failed to apprehend accused Mr Jerusalem Mattaiah who has allegedly taken shelter in AP.
Moreover, the court has granted indefinite relief to Mr Mattaiah from arrest while dealing with the quash petition filed by him. ACB has also failed to secure a statement from Sattupally MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah who has been ducking the agency since a notice was served on him.
Despite armed with a preliminary technical report on forensic evidence, the ACB, which initially wanted to serve notices to several suspects, couldn’t proceed. AP government adviser Parakala Prabhakar said, “Essentially their (TRS government) position is fundamentally flawed. It is inevitable that they will receive setbacks. Our argument is politically and legally very sound.”
Telangana advocates said that Mr Naidu is known for winning legal battles. Advocates’ JAC convenor T. Sriranga Rao said, “There is no separate High Court for TS. We are not yet a full-fledged state. The court should follow procedures at least in these high-profile cases.
Mattaiah is a wanted accused, how can he be granted relief? Naidu is known for playing all kind of tricks. AP prosecutors argued for Mattaiah, who is a private individual wanted in the cash-for-vote scam. We have already complained to judicial authorities regarding the developments. While investigation is in a crucial state, Revanth Reddy should not have been given bail.”
