Hyderabad: The Supreme Court on Monday admitted petitions filed by Telangana nominated MLA Stephenson and the Telangana government challenging an order issued by the Hyderabad High Court acquitting Jerusalem Mattaiah, one of the accused in the cash-for-vote scam.
While admitting the petitions, the apex court issued notices to Mr Mattaiah to file a counter within two weeks and posted the case for further hearing after two weeks. The Bench comprising Justice Sharad Arvind Bobde and L. Nageswara Rao took up the case and issued notices.
The Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau had listed Mr Mathaiah as an abettor and made him accused No. 4 in the cash-for-vote case along with TD MLA A. Revanth Reddy and others. Mr Mattaiah moved the Hyderabad High court seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings. Following the petition, the High Court quashed all proceedings against him.
Aggrieved by this, the ACB moved the Supreme Court contending that the High Court had failed to take note of facts which showed Mr Mathaiah’s abetment, which could be punished under the Prevention of Corruption Act. Later, the nominated MLA Stephenson also filed a petition challenging the High court order.
