In a big embarrassment to the Opposition Telugu Desam party in Telangana, the Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) caught its senior leader and MlA Revanth Reddy while allegedly offering bribe to nominated Anglo Indian MlA Elvis Stephenson on Sunday. ACB Deputy Superintendent Ashok Kumar said that Revant Reddy along with two others was detained along with Rs50 lakh cash when they had gone to the house of the nominated MlA’s friend at Pushpa Nilayam in lalguda area of Secunderabad.
The MlA who was facing the attempt by the TDP MlA to lure him to vote for the TDP candidate in Telangana legislative Council elections had lodged a complaint to the ACB three days ago. On receipt of information that Revanth Reddy was coming to pay the cash to the nominate MlA, the ACB officials laid a trap and caught him red handed. ACB said that the entire episode was recorded through hidden mikes and video cameras.
“The offer made was for Rs5 crore and we have seized Rs50 lakhs”, the DSP said. “We have booked a case against the MlA under the Prevention of Corruption Act and the Representation of People’s Act”, he said. But Revanth Reddy denied any wrong doing and alleged that it was a conspiracy hatched by the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to frame him in this case. “I am not contesting the legislative Council elections. So where is the question of my giving bribe to any body”, said Revanth Reddy who had a running battle with the Chief Minister and the TRS over the last one year.
A delegation of Telangana Telugu Desam party led by its state president l Ramanna met the Director General of Police Anurag Sharma and alleged that it was a political conspiracy to frame the TDP leadership. They also feared for the life of Revanth Reddy who was in ACB custody.