8 months ago
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The Supreme Court connected Friday upheld an Andhra Pradesh High Court determination quashing proceedings against Jerusalem Mathaiah, who is the 4th accused successful the infamous 2015 cash-for-vote lawsuit registered and investigated by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB).
The determination by a Bench of Chief Justice B.R. Gavai and Justice K. Vinod Chandran whitethorn person a rippling effect connected a petition filed by Telangana Chief Minister and erstwhile Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader, A. Revanth Reddy, who is besides an accused successful the case, to quash the FIR successful the 2015 case. Mr. Reddy’s petition was listed earlier a coordinate Bench of the apical tribunal headed by Justice J.K. Maheshwari, but was adjourned to a day successful October.
Chargesheet filed successful 2015
Mr. Reddy was accused of paying ₹50 lakh bribe to Elvis Stephenson, a nominated MLA, for supporting TDP nominee Vem Narendar Reddy successful the 2015 Legislative Council elections. Mr. Mathiah, a pastor and past a subordinate of the TDP Christian Cell, was accused fig 4 successful the case. In July 2015, the ACB filed a chargesheet against Mr. Reddy and others nether the Prevention of Corruption Act and Section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code.
On Friday, Justice Chandran, who wrote the six-page judgment, said determination was thing to nexus Mr. Mathiah with the alleged crime. The judgement noted that the accusation astir the effort to bribe Mr. Stephenson was received connected May 28, 2015, but the FIR was registered lone 2 days later, connected May 31.
“We cannot but announcement that determination is thing to link the 4th accused to the crime, but for a casual allegation raised connected a telephone having been received by the complainant (ACB) without immoderate denotation adjacent of the clip erstwhile specified a telephone was received. We find perfectly nary crushed to interfere with the bid of the High Court,” the Supreme Court concluded.
