SC Rejects ACB Plea To Scrap Revanth Reddy's Bail

The Telangana government received a setback when the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed the appeal filed by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau against the High Court judgment granting bail to TDP MLA A Revanth Reddy and two others in the infamous note-for-vote scandal.

The Hyderabad High Court had granted bail Reddy, Harry Sabastian and Uday Simha, all accused in the alleged deal to try and lure nominated Anglo-Indian MLA Elvis Stephenson with huge cash to cast his vote in favour of the TDP nominee in the recent Telangana MLC elections.

The three, who were arrested on May 31, had walked out of the Charlapally central jail after cooling their heels for about one month there, after the High Court granted them bail.

However, the Telangana ACB moved the Supreme Court pleading for quashing of the bail order of the lower court on the ground that the investigation in the case was still under progress and that some more persons were to be interrogated.

The ACB tried to convince the court that releasing the accused on bail halfway through, would affect the investigation as Reddy was a notorious person and would tamper with the evidence and pressurize witnesses with threats.

It was also brought to the notice of the apex court that on the day of release, Reddy had blatantly flouted the conditions imposed in the bail order by taking out a rally, displaying deadly weapons, and even launching a tirade against the Telangana CM and other ruling party leaders.

A noted legal luminary and minister in the erstwhile UPA regime Kapil Sibal argued on behalf of the Telangana ACB.

Hearing the arguments on behalf of the ACB, Justice L Dattu pointed out that the accused had been in the custody of the investigating authorities for four days and spent one month in the jail. As the statements of the accused were recorded under Section 164 CrPC, where was the need for sending them to jail again, he asked, and declared that the ACB's contentions for cancelling the order of the High Court did not hold water.

Moreover, the High Court had followed all procedures and only then passed its order, he pointed out.

The Supreme Court's rejection of the ACB appeal by upholding the High Court bail order is another blow for the ACB, while it has come as yet another shot in the arm to not only to Revanth Reddy but also the TDP leadership. (NSS)