As the investigations into the cash-for-vote or bribery scandal entered a crucial week, the Anti Corruption Bureau Court in Hyderabad on Monday extended the judicial custody of the main accused Telugu Desam MlA A Revanth Reddy and his two associates till July 13.
On the expiry of their judicial custody period on Monday, Revanth Reddy and his two associates Harry Sebastian and Uday Simha were produced before judge lakshmipati who accepting the plea of ACB counsel extended their custody.
Counsel for ACB argued that as the investigations had entered a very critical phase and some more information was necessary, if the accused were released on bail they may try to damage the evidence.
Another bail petition of Revanth Reddy was pending in the High Court and the judge was expected to pass his orders tomorrow.
In another related development Hyderabad High Court today dismissed the petition of the main complainant of the cash for vote case nominated MlA Elvis Stephenson and order action against him for contempt of court.
Rejecting plea of Sebastian that the judge hearing quash petition of another suspect Jerusalem Muttaiah should recuse himself from the case, justice Siva Sankara Rao made it clear that the case will remain before him and the same bench will hear the quash petition.
Expressing his anger over the motivated and misleading affidavit of Stephenson, the judge said that this weakens the public faith in the judicial system.
Stephenson expressing doubts that the judge might quash the complaint against Muttaiah had sought the case be transferred to another bench.
“If the petitioner has any objection to the verdict he can always go in for an appeal”, the judge said and directed the Registrar of High Court to take action against the petitioner under section14 for showing contempt towards the court.
He said that the matter should be placed before the Chief Justice of High Court and the Advocate General Ramakrishna Reddy should assist the court. The hearing should be in camera, he said.
Jerusalem Muttaiah, who is an accused in the cash for vote scam and was wanted by Telangana Anti Corruption Bureau has filed a petition seeking the quashing of FIR against him saying the case was politically motivated. Muttaiah, who is believed to be hiding in Andhra Pradesh has also lodged a complaint with the AP police saying he was facing threat to his life from Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao. Muttaiah’s quash petition was also slated to come up for hearing on Tuesday.
Meanwhile ten days time sought by another suspect of the case TDP MlA S Venkata Veeraiah to appear before the Anti Corruption Bureau expired today. ACB, suspecting his involvement in the conspiracy to bribe nominated MlA Stephenson had issued him a notice to appear for questioning. But Veeraiah sought ten days time on the health ground saying he was admitted in a hospital. He too was believed to be somewhere in Andhra Pradesh. Telangana government has charged AP Government with shielding two accused of the case in its territory.