CM Revanth seeks stay in 2019 SC/ST case against him; HC hears plea

Hyderabad: While adjudicating a criminal petition filed by chief minister A Revanth Reddy, seeking to quash the case against him in 2019 under the SCs/STs Act, the Telangana High Court on Friday questioned Nimma Narayana, counsel for the complainant, N Peddi Raju, director, Rajole Constituency SC Mutually Aided Cooperative Housing Society, as to why he has filed the vacate stay petition, seeking vacation of order, dated September 22, 2020, after nearly five years from the date of passing the order.

In the order dated September 22, 2020, the judge dispensed with the appearance of CM Revanth Reddy before the Special Sessions Judge for Trial of Case under SCs/STs POA Act 1989 and directed him to appear before the lower court as and when directed to appear.

Nimma Narayana, counsel for the complainant, argued before Justice Moushumi Bhattachary, contending that A Revanth Reddy, the petitioner, has violated the High Court order by not appearing before the court.

Responding to the contention of the counsel for the complainant, Raghu, senior counsel appearing for CM Revanth Reddy contended that there was no such specific direction to the petitioner to appear before it; hence, there is no violation of the High Court order.

The said SCs/STs POA Act 1989 atrocities case emanates from a complaint in 2019 in PS Chandanagar, filed by the complainant, N Peddi Raju, director, Rajole Constituency SC Mutually Aided Cooperative Housing Society Limited, alleging that A Kondal Reddy A-1 (brother of A Revanth Reddy), E Laxmaiah (A-2) at the instigation of A Revanth Reddy (A-3), illegally trespassed into the land belonging to the said society and demolished one room of the society with JCB in Survey No. 127, Gopanapally village and wrongfully disposed of the said society’s land and the Accused No 1 and the A2 abused the complainant in filthy language by taking his caste name.

Senior Counsel Raghu, who appeared for the petitioner CM Revanth Reddy, informed the court that the petitioner was not present at the scene of the offence and the police have filed the closure report in the court to this effect.

The senior counsel informed the court that the petitioner, CM Revanth Reddy, was not present at the scene of the offence, and this was also confirmed by the statement of LW-1 viz., complainant N Peddi Raju.

The public prosecutor said that out of the eight witnesses examined, none spoke about the petitioner, CM Revanth Reddy.

The said land dispute is purely between the society, Accused No 1 Kondal Reddy and Accused No 2 E Laxmaiah and the petitioner in this case has nothing to do with this case.

The case has been adjourned to June 20.