Cash-for-vote scam: Revanth Reddy withdraws plea

Hyderabad: Justice Raja Elango of the Hyderabad High Court on Thursday dismissed a petition as withdrawn, moved by TD legislator A. Revanth Reddy, accused in the cash-for-vote scam, seeking to relax the bail conditions.

The judge directed that Revanth Reddy should confine himself to his constituency Kodangal in Mahbubnagar district and must appear before the ACB whenever his presence is required for investigation.

Counsel appearing for Revanth Reddy urged the court to relax the bail condition on the ground that the petitioner being a senior political leader in Telangana, has to attend party programmes in the capital and address party workers at meetings.

Mr V. Ravikiran Rao, special public prosecutor for Telangana ACB, opposed the plea stating that the petitioner could seek relaxation based on health grounds or to attend family functions. Attending party programmes is not a ground for seeking relaxation of the conditions.

He said that the ongoing investigation would be affected if the petitioner was allowed to stay in the city.

When the judge pointed out that the grounds for the relaxation are not satisfactory, counsel urged the judge for permission to withdraw the petition.

While permitting withdrawal of the petition, the judge posted the hearing to Monday the petitions moved by Bishop Harry Sebastian and Uday Simha who sought relaxation of the condition of presenting themselves before the investigation officer every day.