Telangana HC quashes cases on election misconduct against MPs Bandi Sanjay, Eatala Rajender

Hyderabad: In separate court hearings, the Telangana High Court quashed criminal cases against two MPs, Bandi Sanjay Kumar and Eatala Rajender. Both cases were about the MPs allegedly flouting the election code of conduct.

In the first case, the HC quashed criminal proceedings against MP and Central Minister Bandi Sanjay Kumar. The case was registered during the Assembly elections in November 2023 over Bandi Sanjay allegedly making derogatory comments and controversial statements against the then chief minister K Chandrashekar Rao at a public meeting.

Justice Kunuru Lakshman said that the investigating officer has not produced the requisite statements of witnesses to the case.

It is pertinent here to mention that on June 16, during the hearing of the petition, the Judge had dispensed with the appearance of the petitioner, Bandi Sanjay, before the judicial magistrate of First Class (PCR), Special Mobile Court at Karimnagar, but directed him to appear before the lower court as and when his presence is required.

The judge was hearing the criminal petition filed by Bandi Sanjay Kumar seeking directions to call for the entire records about CC No 365 of 2024 registered on the file of Judicial Magistrate of First Class (PCR) Special Mobile at Karimnagar for the offences punishable under sections 153, 188 and 171F of IPC and QUASH the same.

Case against MP Eatala Rajender

In the second case, Justice Kunuru Lakshman on Tuesday quashed the criminal case against BJP MP Eatala Rajender, which was registered against him in Kamalapur PS for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct, which was in effect during the by-election to the Huzurabad Assembly Constituency.

As per the case, the BJP workers took out a huge rally, and they resorted to bursting crackers, for which the judge observed that Section 285 IPC will attract the petitioner.

Though the petitioner Eatala Rajender is Accused No. 1 in the said criminal case, he was not present at the time of bursting crackers; hence, the ingredients of the said section do not apply towards the petitioner, the court ruled.

Further, the judge, during the course of the hearing, observed that the IO had not produced the statements of the witnesses to this case.

In June, during the hearing of the criminal petition, the judge had dispensed the appearance of the petitioner before the Special Judicial Magistrate of the First Class for Trial of cases relating to MPs and MLAS at Hyderabad, but directed him to appear before the lower court as and when his presence is required.

The judge was hearing the Criminal Petition filed by Eatala Rajender, Member of Parliament, seeking directions to quash the proceedings against the Petitioners in CC. No. 287 of 2024 on the file of the Special Judicial Magistrate of First Class for trial of Cases relating to MPs and MLAs at Hyderabad for the offences under Section 188 and 285 r/w 34 of IPC 31 of EDA and 511b DMA.