Election Petition Against Srinivas Goud: HC Summons Officials, Bankers

HYDERABAD: In a step aimed at concluding the election petition filed against minister V. Srinivas Goud, elected from the Mahbubnagar Assembly constituency in 2018, the Telangana High Court has summoned all officials to produce evidence, against complaints that he had suppressed facts while filing his election affidavit.

Justice M. Laxman directed the sub-registrar of stamps and registration in Mahbubnagar; manager of HDFC Bank Ranigunj branch, manager of SBl Erragadda branch, manager of AP Grameena Vikas Bank Padmavathi Colony branch and the road transport officer, Mahbubnagar district, RDO Medak district and the additional collector (revenue), Nalgonda district to appear before the High Court-appointed advocate commissioner to produce the evidence in the case on the dates allotted to them between September 6 and 11.

The election petition was filed against Goud seeking to set aside his election because he had suppressed details regarding property, vehicle and bank details of his spouse V. Sharada, in the election affidavit. The petitioner said that later Goud altered the election affidavit in connivance with the returning officers.

Sharada had acquired property in Mahbubnagar and mortgaged it at Grameena Vikas Bank; had purchased a car by taking a loan from HDFC Bank and she has an account in SBI’s Erragadda branch. As per the complaint, Goud did not disclose these details.

RDO Padmasree and additional collector J. Srinivas were summoned to give evidence on altering the election affidavit.

The High Court also directed the advocate commissioner not to give adjournments without any valid reason, continue to record the evidence of witnesses on a day to day basis and submit the report to the court by September 12.