All involved in cash-for-vote scam to be probed, states Telangana ACB
Hyderabad: The Telangana State Anti-Corruption Bureau filed a memo in the ACB court at Nampally on Tuesday stating that the agency was conducting investigations into the cash-for-vote scam and “probing the role of all persons involved in the crime”.
The memo came after ACB received directions from the court regarding the complaint filed by YSRC MLA A. Rama-krishna Reddy against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
In the memo, the ACB stated: “The matter is still under investigation for collection of evidence. As and when the investigation is completed, a supplementary chargesheet will be filed before the court. The transaction subject matter (the cash-for-vote scam) of the investigation by TS ACB and subject matter in the complaint filed by Mangalagiri MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy are the same and it is under investigation.” The ACB has indirectly hinted that there is no fresh FIR in the case and investigation will be continued based on the existing FIR.
No summons to Jerusalem Mathaiah
On August 29, the ACB court had taken cognizance of the preliminary chargesheet filed by the ACB on July 28. The court on Wednesday issued summons to the accused, TD MLA A. Revanth Reddy, Bishop Harry Sebastian and Mr Udaysimha, asking them to appear before it on September 29.
No summons were issued to the other accused, Jerusalem Mathaiah, as the High Court has quashed the case against him and the same is pending appeal in Supreme Court.
The ACB is yet to file a chargesheet against arrested accused TD MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah. The allegation is that the accused paid Rs 50 lakh (part of a Rs 5 crore bribe) to Anglo Indian MLA Elvis Stephenson to vote for the TD’s MLC candidate in the elections.