CM Revanth moves court seeking quashing of FIRs; Telangana HC issues notice to complainant

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court, on Thursday, adjudicated two criminal petitions filed by Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, seeking directions to quash proceedings registered against him in two FIRs.

The case has been registered at the Mogulapally and Bhupalapally police stations in Jayashankar Bhupalapally district under Sections 504 and 505(2) of the Indian Penal Code.

The de facto complainant is Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy, former Member of Legislative Assembly for Bhupalapally and member of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi party.

The HC Single Bench, comprising Justice Kalasikam Sujana, in both criminal petitions, issued notice to Ramana Reddy, directing him to file a reply to the notice.

The Judge declined the plea advanced by the petitioner’s counsel, Bala Mohan Reddy, seeking a direction to stay all further proceedings, including the appearance of the petitioner before the lower court, and adjourned the criminal petitions to February 21.

What are the arguments about?

The counsel further contended that the de facto complainant has filed two complaints in two police stations, whereas the content of both complaints is identical. This clearly demonstrates malicious intention and a deliberate attempt on the part of the complainant to harass the petitioner. The said cases are scheduled to be heard before the lower court on February 19.

The two FIRs were registered against the petitioner when he was serving as Member of Parliament and President of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee.

What was the complaint about?

The defacto complainant, Gandra Venkata Ramana Reddy, in his two complaints dated March 3, 2023, alleged that A Revanth Reddy, in a public meeting held on February 22, 2023, in Bhupalapally district, made defamatory and demeaning allegations against the complainant, contending that the complainant is a land grabber who resorted to petrol and sand pilferage and is involved in misappropriation of funds belonging to Singareni Collieries Company Limited.

The speech delivered by A Revanth Reddy was covered by both print and electronic media at the time.

The Judge was adjudicating two criminal petitions, filed by CM Revanth Reddy seeking quashing of proceedings in the two FIRs registered against him.

The matter has been adjourned to February 21 for further hearing.