A special court here on Monday extended the judicial remand of A Revanth Reddy, Telangana TDP MLA, and two others in the cash-for-vote scam that broke out last month.

Meanwhile, reports are awaited from a forensic science laboratory on the alleged role of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu in the scam. The findings of the forensic study are likely to throw up additional information in the case and corroborate the prosecution stand. Media reports — based on a purported tapped telephonic conversation of Naidu — have suggested his involvement in the scam.

The 14-day remand for scam accused Reddy, Rudra Udaysimha and Bishop Harry Sebastian ended today. The prosecution sought an extension of their remand as the investigation is still underway, and the court extended it by two more weeks, up to June 29. Reddy has now moved the high court seeking bail.

Revanth Reddy had been released on 12-hour bail on Thursday to enable him to attend his daughter’s engagement.

The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested the TDP MLA on May 31, when he was alleged to have tried to bribe nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson.

Revanth Reddy was seeking Stephenson’s support for TDP-BJP-backed member Narendar Reddy in the Legislative Council elections.

The ACB, while questioning the accused, has been trying to find details of the co-conspirators.

Various taped conversations and the electronic data gathered from Revanth Reddy and others — from their phones and from hard disks — have been sent for forensic study.

The tapes have triggered a complaint by Naidu to Prime Minister Narendra Modi and State Governor ESL Narasimhan, on alleged tapping of phones of some 120 politicians and officials. The ACB has denied it.

Meanwhile, Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao met Narasimhan and had a detailed discussion on the developments relating to the case.

On Sunday, two advisors of the Governor met with Naidu and held a detailed discussion on the recent developments including the issue of Section 8 of AP Reorganisation Act, which lays down the governance of the common capital of Hyderabad by the Governor.

Agencies report: The TDP, meanwhile, has alleged that Governor Narasimhan appears “biased” in favour of the TRS government in Telangana, and is “discriminating” against the people of Andhra Pradesh. There were several instances where the rights of AP people were violated, but the Governor remained mute spectator to the incidents, it said.

Related Topics
comment COMMENT NOW