The High Court in Hyderabad on Tuesday granted 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 had been lodged in the Cherlapally jail, close to city limits. Reddy, however, is likely to be released only on Wednesday as some formalities, including sureties, need to be complied with before his release.

Justice Raja Elango, who had posted the case to today, had earlier mentioned there was no material to register the case and wondered how the police officers have not recorded reasons for arrest in writing as contemplated in law, especially in circumstances where the minimum sentence in the case is less than seven years.

Setting aside the objections raised by Ramakrishna Reddy, Telangana Advocate-General representing the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB), the High Court, while granting the bail, directed them to cooperate with the investigating agency. Revanth Reddy was directed to surrender his passport and remain in his Assembly constituency of Kodangal.

While the Advocate General opposed the bail on the grounds that the investigation is still under way and their release would help them tamper with evidence, the defence counsel contended that this is a politically motivated case and argued they need not be in custody now as all the material collected during investigation is with the ACB. The ACB later indicated that it is planning to approach the Supreme Court against the bail granted to the accused.

Revanth was arrested for seeking to bribe nominated MLA Elvis Stepehenson to enlist his support to back the TDP-backed candidate in the Legislative Council polls.

Related Topics