Supreme Court Rebukes Telangana CM Revanth Reddy Over Political Influence Remarks In BRS Leader Bail Case

Enraged by Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's remark that the top court had political influence in giving bail to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader K Kavitha in the Delhi Excise Policy Case, the Supreme Court addressed Revanth Reddy on Thursday,

"Do we decide on political considerations?"

During a bench led by Justice BR Gavai, the CM was criticized for his comments regarding a plea to move the trial in a 2015 cash-for-vote case against Revanth outside of the state. 'The transfer petition should be granted only on the grounds that someone has the chutzpah to claim that we make decisions after consulting with political parties.

The bench declared that it will revisit the case on Monday and that, "let him face trial outside the state". The court had earlier in the day seemed likely to dismiss the petition, but before the hearing was held again, it learned of CM's statements against the highest court while checking the identity of the prosecutor. This was a dramatic turn of events in the case.

"The question of the case's transfer is not closed off. Does a responsible state chief minister have the right to make such remarks? Justices PK Mishra and KV Viswanathan were also on the bench when they stated",

If this is the kind of speech he is giving, that may rightly make people concerns that the trial against him can be influenced. "Revanth expressed disbelief at K Kavitha's five-month detention period in response to her co-accused and Aam Aadmi Party (AAP) leader Manish Sisodia's fifteen-month incarceration, following his political rival's Tuesday bail decision by the top court. Revanth claimed, while addressing reporters at a press conference, that Kavitha might have received bail as a result of a "deal" between the BRS and the BJP, which is currently in power in the Central government.

The bench got angry over this and remarked, "We always say we must not interfere with the legislative branch. They are also required to do this. As per our conscience and oath, we carry out our duties. Take a look at the disparaging statement about the court. Do we make decisions based on political factors? Should he dare to utter such words regarding the directives issued by the Supreme Court, we ought to remind him of our ruling from yesterday, which instituted contempt proceedings against an IAS officer from Maharashtra for stating that the court does not adhere to the law.

In its notice of contempt of court, the Supreme Court had made reference to the filing of an affidavit by an IAS officer working as an additional chief secretary in the Maharashtra government, which appeared to imply that the highest court does not adhere to the law.

"Let me make amends", stated senior counsel Mukul Rohatgi, who was representing the Chief Minister. He claimed not to have seen the statement until that point and that he had seen the news articles on his phone. On Monday, the court might hear the case. Senior attorney Sidharth Luthra, who was also representing the CM, joined him in arguing that the remarks were a result of political parties squabbling. Your disrespect for the Supreme Court is evident, the bench informed Reddy's attorneys. We apologize if someone's behaviour is so strongly insistent.

Four BRS MPs filed a petition with the court claiming that Reddy might influence witnesses and the trial because he was not only the chief minister but also the home minister. Reddy was accused of offering a bribe of ₹50 lakh as advance to a state-nominated MLA in order to have him abstain from voting in a biennial election or vote for the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) in 2015. This occurred while Reddy was an MLA for the TDP in 2015. Charges have been refuted by Revanth.

Author: 
Aarya Kadam (News Writer) is a final-year BBA student and a creative writer with a passion for current affairs and legal judgments.