While hearing the batch of cases pertaining to the transfer of investigation in the MLA poaching case to the Central Bureau of Investigation, Justice B Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court restrained the police from arresting two of the accused, Thushar Vellappally and B Srinivas, but directed them to cooperate with the investigating agency.
Examining the cases in which the Telangana unit of the BJP, Karimnagar-based advocate B Srinivas, NDA Kerala convener Thushar Vellappally, and the prime accused in the case, Nanda Kumar, Simhayaji, and Ramchandra Bharathi, were petitioners, the judge adjourned the case to December 6 for further hearing but issued directions asking the police not to arrest Thushar and Srinivas in the meantime.
While the petitioners alleged flaws in the Special Investigation Team’s probe and sought transfer of the case to the CBI, the State government submitted a report on the SIT’s investigation, along with documents, CDs and pen drives, and so on, and argued that the investigation was fair.
Earlier, senior counsels Dushyant Dave representing the State government, Mahesh Jethmalani for the three prime accused, Udaya Holla for B Srinivas, PP Hegde for Thushar, and J Prabhakar for the State BJP exchanged arguments for nearly an entire day in the packed courtroom.
ALSO READ: BJP General Secretary B.L. Santhosh not cooperating: SIT to Telangana HC
Telangana HC lifts no music after 10 pm rule in pubs outside Jubilee Hills
Telangana HC verdict shows TRS politically misused Dalit Bandhu: Congress
While the counsels argued that the investigation was being conducted improperly and that the implication of some of the accused was illegal, Dave submitted a report of the inquiry to the Court along with the material. He stated that the SIT had enough evidence to convict all accused, including Srinivas and Thushar.
On the arguments from the accused’s counsels against the Chief Minister presenting the evidence before the media, Dave said that in a situation where the State government was attempted to be toppled, it was natural for a Chief Minister to react and that the BJP was a national party and the TRS had an equal right to stand up if its existence was threatened.
There should be no suspicion while the investigation is handled by senior IPS officers who may work in the Central government in the future. Dave pointed out that the CBI works for the central government, and that if the High Court allowed for a CBI investigation, it would be sought in other cases as well.
In a related development, on Thursday morning, Justice B Sumalatha of the High Court will hear the bail applications filed by the three accused Nandakumar, Simhayaji, and Ramchandra Bharathi on priority.
When the case was heard on Wednesday, the additional public prosecutor requested a week to get instructions. The judge adjourned the case to Thursday after conceding with Senior Counsel Ravichander, who appeared on behalf of the accused, that the State was aware of the Supreme Court order and that the case needed to be resolved quickly.
(This story has been sourced from a third-party syndicated feed, agencies. Raavi Media accepts no responsibility or liability for the text’s dependability, trustworthiness, reliability, and data. Raavi Media management/ythisnews.com reserves the sole right to alter, delete or remove (without notice) the content at its absolute discretion for any reason whatsoever.)
