[MLA Poaching Case] Telangana High Court Directs SIT To Probe Independently
(Judicial Quest News Nerwork)
In an exciting turn of events, Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the Special Investigating Team (SIT) which is probing the allegations related to poaching of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs by BJP,should not report to any political party or executive authority.
The Court said that instead the probe should be monitored by a single-judge of the High Court to whom the probe agency should report, a bench of Chief Justice Ujja Bhuyan and Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy ordered.
It further directed the SIT to report to the court about the progress of the investigation on 29 November.
The poaching case came into light on 26 October and on the very next day,the BJP government moved the court with the plea that the case should be handed over to CBIor anu imartial ageny.
The high stakes by-poll in Muunegode of Telangana had created an air of uncertainity amongst the electorates and amidst such atmosphere the Cyberabad Police detaine three men- two “Swamijis” from Faridabad and tirupati and a Hyderabd-based businessman –on charges of attempting to bribe four TRS MLAs with huge amounts to change side.
The bench passed slew of directions for an independent SIT probe alongwith liberty to approach single-judge for further permissions required if any, for investigation.
“There shall not be any interference by any authority in the investigation by the SIT in Crime No.455 of 2022 and if any permissions are required to proceed further with the investigation, SIT would be at liberty to make suitable application before the learned Single Judge; the court ordered.
Considering the fact that the case has serious political ramifications, the Court was of the view that it would be in the interest of all concerened if the investigation is done in a fair and professionalmanner, insulated from the political allegations.
The TRS government on November 9 had issued a GO in setting up a seven-member special investigation team (SIT) to probe into the case relating to alleged poaching of the ruling party MLAs.
The case of the poacing was field based on the complaint fromPilot Rohit Reddy, one of the MLAs approached by the trio.Relavant sections of IPC and provisions of the prevention of Corruption Act, 1988 were invoked against RamkrishanBharti alias Satish Sharma, Nanda Kishore and Simhayaji Swamy on October 26.
According to the complaint foled in Police Station, the accused offered him Rs 100 crore and in return the legislator has to leave the TRS and contest as a BJP candidate in the next Assembly elections.
The SIT AreMembers Of The SIT Are As Follows: I. Commissioner of Police Hyderabad City. C.V.Anand, I.P.S ii.Rama Rajeshwari, IPS, SP, Nalgonda. iii. Kalmeshwar Shingenavar, IPS, DCP, Crimes, Cyberabad iv. R.Jagadishwar Reddy, DCP, Shamshabad, Cyberabad V. Sri N.Venkateshwarlu, SP, Narayanpet, VI. Sri B.Gangadhar, ACP, Rajendranagar Division, Cyberabad VII. Sri Laxmi Reddy, SHO, Moinabad Police Station, Cyberabad.
The court further ordered that SIT shall submit its first report in sealed cover before the single-judge about the progress of investigation on November 29.
