This Article is From Dec 09, 2016

Chandrababu Naidu Gets High Court Relief In Cash For Vote Case

Chandrababu Naidu Gets High Court Relief In Cash For Vote Case

Chandrababu Naidu had accused the TRS Government in Telangana of illegally tapping phones.

Hyderabad: In a relief to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the Hyderabad High Court today dismissed a complaint filed by a YSR Congress lawmakers seeking investigation into his alleged role in the cash-for-vote case.

The court allowed Mr Naidu's plea seeking relief and dismissed the complaint filed by Ramakrishna Reddy on the ground that the latter had no locus standi to file such an application.

The lawmaker's counsel P Sudhakar Reddy said he had filed a private complaint in an ACB court making Mr Naidu an accused in the cash-for-vote issue.

The ACB court had ordered probe by ACB over alleged involvement of Mr Naidu who sought relief in the High Court.

Mr Naidu had got a temporary relief in the High Court, but it was challenged by the lawmaker in the Supreme Court. The apex court referred the matter to the High Court.

The lawmaker's counsel said they will pursue legal options against Mr Naidu.

The so-called cash-for-vote pertains to allegations against TDP lawmaker Revant Reddy and others that they tried to bribe a nominated lawmaker in MLC polls. Mr Naidu had accused the TRS Government in Telangana of illegally tapping phones.

In May 2015, nominated lawmaker in Telangana Assembly Elvis Stephenson lodged a complaint alleging that he was offered Rs 5 crore by TDP lawmaker Revanth Reddy to vote for TDP nominee in the election to the Telangana Legislative Council on June 1.

On May 31, ACB arrested Revanth Reddy, Bishop Sebastian Harry and Rudra Udaya Simha when they were allegedly handing over an advance sum of Rs 50 lakh to Stephenson.

A charge sheet filed by the ACB on July 28 last year mentioned TDP chief Naidu's name, but not as an accused.

An audio tape of Mr Naidu's purported conversation with Stephenson over phone on May 30, a day before the ACB arrested Mr Revanth, had found its way to the media.
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