Telangana HC Gives Last Chance to Bandi Sanjay in 2018 Election Petition

Hyderabad: Justice G. Radha Rani of the Telangana High Court on Friday gave the last chance to Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar to appear before the Advocate Commissioner K. Shailaja, District Judge (Retd) — appointed by the High Court to adjudicate his election petition — and depose his witness at an early date. If he fails to do so, the judge made it clear that the petition will be closed for the non-appearance of the petitioner.

After his loss to Gangula Kamalakar in the 2018 Assembly elections, Sanjay Kumar filed the petition before the High Court requesting to declare the election of Gangula Kamalakar from Karimnagar as void on the ground that the latter had resorted to fraudulent practices on election expenses and the election affidavit.

The election petition has been pending since 2019 and the High Court has appointed the Advocate Commission to record the evidence and material placed in the election petition.

However, Sanjay Kumar has been taking several adjournments to appear before the Advocate Commission on the ground that he was busy with his schedule. The counsel for Bandi Sanjay took many adjournments. At one point of time, the court closed the election petition, but for the redundant request of the counsel for Sanjay Kumar, reopened it.

On Friday, counsel for Sanjay Kumar requested the court to adjourn the petition to a later date as Sanjay Kumar had been inducted into the Union Council of Ministers a couple of days ago and his schedule was busy.

Considering the plea of counsel as a last chance, the judge adjourned the case to July 8, directing Sanjay Kumar to appear before the Advocate Commissioner to complete the process of recording the cross-examination of the witness and file a report in the court.