Relief to TRS MP M Kavitha as HC sets aside lower court's conviction order

Hyderabad : In a major relief to TRS leader and Loksabha MP from Mahabubabad, Kavitha Maloth, the Telangana High Court has set aside a lower court's order convicting her in a case of distributing cash to voters during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections.

The Special Court for trial of cases MPs and MLAs in Hyderabad had in July 2021, sentenced her to six months imprisonment and imposed a fine of Rs 10,000. One of her supporters, Shoukath Ali, another accused in the case was also then sentenced to imprisonment and fined. The court however had then granted them bail and allowed them to appeal the verdict in a higher court.

The case dates back to the 2019 general election when a flying squad of the Election Commission caught Ali red handed while distributing money to voters, as the instructions of Kavitha and seized Rs. 10,000 from his possession at Burgampadu in Bhadradri Kothagudem district.

He was caught distributing Rs. 500 to voters. He later confessed to having distributed money on behalf of Kavitha Maloth. Based on a complaint from the officials of the flying squad, a criminal case was registered against him and Kavitha. However Kavitha later won the election and became MP of Mahabubabad.

The court after conducting trial, convicted them under Section 171B (bribery), however, acquitted them of the charge under Section 188 (disobedience to order promulgated by public servant).