HC stays FIR proceedings against Manthani Congress MLA in derogatory video case
The counsel further argued that nothing incriminating was placed on the record after seeing the video, which allegedly shows Sridhar Babu in a bad light
By Newsmeter Network Published on 3 Nov 2023 2:29 PM GMT
Hyderabad: On Friday, the Telangana High Court stayed all proceedings in the FIR registered against Duddilla Sridhar Babu, the sitting Congress MLA from Manthani Assembly Constituency. A case was registered against the Congress MLA on charges of making a derogatory video of BRS leader Putta Madhukar. Sridhar Babu is also the party’s MLA candidate from the same constituency.
T Rajnikanth Reddy, the counsel for Sridhar Babu, argued that the Manthani Police registered a case against the petitioner for allegedly releasing a video on Putta Madhukar, depicting the latter as a murderer, anarchist and as an accused in many cases, with the intent to tarnish his image and get votes in the ensuing Telangana Assembly Elections.
“However, there is no evidence to show that the petitioner has said anything demeaning the image of Putta Madhukar, which does not amount to a violation of the code of conduct,” the counsel said.
The counsel further argued that nothing incriminating was placed on the record after seeing the video, which allegedly shows Sridhar Babu in a bad light. The police ought to have verified the authenticity of the video, before registering the FIR against Sridhar Babu, contended the counsel for the petitioner.
After hearing the contentions of the counsel for the petitioner, Judge K Lakshman stayed all further proceedings in FIR No 230 of 2023 registered against D Sridhar Babu under sections 123 of the Representation of Peoples Act, 171-G and 505 IPC.
