Cash-for-vote case: AP CM moves HC for quashing of complaint

Hyderabad, Sept 1 (PTI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister NChandrababu Naidu today filed a petition in the Hyderabad HighCourt seeking quashinf of a private complaint filed againsthim in the cash-for-vote case. The petition will come up for hearing tomorrow. Naidu sought quashing of the recent order passed by an ACBcourt directing the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) toinvestigate allegations made against him in the complaintfiled by YSRCP MLA Alla Ramakrishna Reddy with regard to thecash-for-vote case allegedly involving TDP’s Telangana MLAA Revanth Reddy. In May 2015, nominated MLA in Telangana Assembly ElvisStephenson had lodged a complaint alleging that he was offeredRs 5 crore by Revanth Reddy to vote for TDP nominee in theelection to the Telangana Legislative Council on June 1. Ramakrishna Reddy in his petition alleged that Naidu wasalso a conspirator in the case and committed the offence ofoffering bribe to Stephenson. Naidu in his plea said, "On merits, it is submitted thatthe petitioner (Naidu) has not committed any offence much lessas alleged by the respondent herein/complainant. Thepetitioner denies all the allegations made against him in thecomplaint." Three days back, the ACB court had directed theanti-graft agency to submit a report on its investigation intothe case on September 30. Following this direction, the ACBhad informed the court that it is already investigating thecase and there was no need for a separate FIR. Naidu alleged that Ramakrishna Reddy levelled allegationsagainst him with the sole intention to "embarrass, harass andwreak political vengeance (with malafide intentions)" againsthim (Naidu) as he (Reddy) belongs to a rival (YSR Congress)party. The chief minister said that the ACB court had passeddirections without considering the fact that the ACB hadinvestigated and filed a charge sheet in the case. "It is submitted that the order of the special judgedirecting investigation and report under Section 156(3) CrPCafter the filling of the charge sheet on July 27, 2015, islegally impermissible since the power under section 156(3) isnot available at that stage," Naidu said. On May 31, 2015, the ACB had arrested Revanth Reddy,Bishop Sebastian Harry and Rudra Udaya Simha when they wereallegedly handing over an advance sum of Rs 50 lakh toStephenson. TDP MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah was arrested inthe case later. All of them were subsequently granted bail. A charge sheet filed by the ACB on July 27 last yearhad mentioned Naidu’s name, but not as an accused. An audio tape of Naidu’s purported conversation withStephenson over phone on May 30, a day before the ACB arrestedRevanth, had found its way to the media. PTI GDK VVK NPSC