Cash for vote: SC declines to interfere in Revanth Reddy bail issue

New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to interfere with an order passed by the High Court in Hyderabad on Tuesday granting bail to TDP MLA in Telangana A Revanth Reddy and two other co-accused in the high-profile cash-for-vote scam.

Reddy, the main accused, Bishop Harry Sebastian and Rudra Udaysimha were arrested for seeking to bribe nominated MLA Elvis Stepehenson to enlist his support to back the TDP-backed candidate in the Legislative Council polls. The prosecution alleged that Rs. five cores was offered to the nominated MLA for casting his vote and Rs. 50 lakhs was given in advance.

Senior counsel Kapil Sibal, appearing for Telengana State assailed the High Court order and said only four days police custody was granted and thereafter they were sent to jail. The police which had audio and video recordings sent them for forensic examination and there was a report in its favour. The trail of money had to be established and at this state the High Court ought not to have granted bail to the accused.

The CJI pointed out that after police custody they were in jail for a month, “and you could have obtained their statements. Nowadays magistrates are afraid to grant bail and if the High Court in kits discretion grants bail, normally we will not interfere.”

In its appeal, the State said this case demonstrates as to how persons with vested interest try and subvert democratic process by indulging in purchasing MLA for vote or abstain from voting thereby strike at the very root of democratic principles. Investigation had revealed that the whole transaction was meticulously planned and executed and the possibility of involvement of other persons as well as the  money trail needs to be investigated.

It said the High Court had granted bail without appreciating the well founded apprehensions of the investigating agency. Their remaining on bail would prejudice the investigation in regard to money trail, it said and sought quashing the order granting bail. The bench, however, dismissed the appeal at the admission stage itself.