New Delhi, August 29 — The Supreme Court of India has announced it will appoint a special prosecutor to oversee the trial in the high-profile 2015 cash-for-vote scam case involving Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
The decision came after the Court heard a petition seeking the transfer of the trial from Telangana to Bhopal. A bench comprising Justices B.R. Gavai, P.K. Mishra, and K.V. Viswanathan stated it will consult with colleagues from Telangana and issue a decision by 2 p.m. today.
Senior advocate C. Aryama Sundaram, representing Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy and three other petitioners, argued for the transfer, citing concerns over public statements made by Revanth Reddy, who was then with the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and is now the Chief Minister of Telangana. Sundaram emphasized that the Chief Minister’s dual role as Home Minister might influence the impartiality of the trial.
The bench remarked on the principle of natural justice, questioning whether it could entertain the petition based solely on apprehensions. “If we entertain such petitions, we will be disbelieving our judicial officers,” the bench observed.
The Court acknowledged the concerns about impartiality and agreed to appoint an independent public prosecutor to ensure a fair trial. The decision aims to restore public confidence in the judicial process.
The case stems from an incident on May 31, 2015, when Revanth Reddy was apprehended by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) for allegedly attempting to bribe Elvis Stephenson, a nominated MLA, with Rs 50 lakh to support a TDP candidate in the legislative council elections. Revanth Reddy, along with others involved, was later granted bail.
The petition for trial transfer argues that Reddy’s current positions as Chief Minister and Home Minister could unduly influence the proceedings and witnesses. It asserts that a fair trial is fundamental to the Constitution’s Article 21, which guarantees justice free from bias and external pressures.
The plea also requests the transfer of a related case from Telangana to Bhopal. On January 5, the Supreme Court had postponed until February the hearing of Reddy’s separate petition challenging the high court’s dismissal of his plea regarding the jurisdiction of the ACB court.
In July 2015, the ACB filed charges against Reddy and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code. The ACB presented audio and video evidence, including the recovery of Rs 50 lakh, as part of its case against the accused.
