MLAs poaching case: BJP invokes phone taping of TS governor; seeks CBI probe

Hyderabad: Accusing the SIT of tapping the phones of Telangana governor, BJP has again prayed to the High Court to transfer the MLA poaching case either to CBI or some private detective agency for a fair investigation.

Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy heard a batch of writ petitions filed by BJP, Telangana Unit, represented by its General Secretary Premender Reddy seeking a CBI probe into the TRS MLAs poaching case. Uday Holla, Senior Counsel appearing for B. Srinivas informed the Court that in 2014, 23 MLAs from other political parties, switched to TRS. He said in 2018, 10 MLAs of other political parties switched to TRS. He said now the TRS accuses BJP of poaching its MLAs.

"If the TRS party points one figure at BJP, then four fingers are pointed at the TRS party," Uday Holla said.

Holla informed the Court that the Chief of the Special Investigation Team, Commissioner of Police Hyderabad has resorted to tapping the phone of none other than the Governor of the State. "How can there be a fair investigation when the top officials of the police resort to such things? There is an absolute lack of credibility on the part of the investigation by SIT, hence, the investigation of this case should be entrusted to some other agency, even a private detective agency or CBI for a fair and unbiased investigation," Holla said.

Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy asked Uday Holla what prejudice is caused to his client if the entire poaching episode has been live telecast by various TV channels. Dave, senior counsel for the State has already tendered an unconditional apology to the court and CM of the state.

Holla said that the Supreme Court says, in criminal matters, there should be no media trial.

Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy asked J. Ramchandra Rao, Additional Advocate General, who gave the entire material evidence to the media.

Immediately, after the CM press meet, within no time, the entire material evidence was in the media. Holla and other counsels vehemently argued that the police have laid the trap, recorded audio, videos and call records, etc, and later sent them to the media and CM.

J. Ramchandra Rao said that the complainant Rohit Reddy might have given the material to the media. "I am told that Rohit Reddy has given the material to the CM and the Media," he said.

He said all the counsels on record, were also served the material evidence. The SIT has not given the material to CM and the media. The media has wrongly reported this aspect, he said. SIT has given a press note stating that it has not given such material to Media and CM.

On December 9, Senior counsels appearing for the other accused and the petitioner in the main Writ Petition will conclude their arguments.