HC refuses to grant stay

K Venkateshwarlu
Hyderabad

The High Court adjourned the hearing in the Moinabad farmhouse BRS MLAs’ poaching case till Friday.

A bench headed by Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan heard the Telangana government’s writ appeal challenging the Single Bench judgement. Dushyant Dave submitted arguments on behalf of the government. The Chief Justice adjourned the hearing till 12 am Friday.

Arguing for the government, Dave said that the accused tried to purchase the MLAs, who are with the government, and had conspired to topple the government.

In that case, KCR will be responsible as party president, Dave argued saying that there is nothing wrong in conducting a press meeting by the BRS chief. Dave also argued that the report submitted by the SIT to the court will automatically come up in the public domain.

The Chief Minister announced before the media about evidence only after they are in the public domain. Dave argued that it is not proper to hand over the case to the CBI based on the Chief Minister’s press meet.

“Should the Chief Minister fail to respond when some people are trying to purchase his party MLAs? Will the court transfer the case to the CBI if KCR mentioned the name of the Prime Minister and Union Home Minister? Where is the case for disbanding the SIT?” Dave argued. After hearing the arguments, the High Court refused to stay the Single Bench Order transferring the case to the CBI from SIT.

It may be recalled that the single bench transferred the MLAs’ poaching case to the CBI and suspended the probe order till a copy of the verdict was also issued. However, the court issued an order copy on Thursday. Gandra Mohan argued on behalf of BRS MLA Pilot Rohit Reddy after the lunch break. Rohit’s lawyer told the bench that the lower court gave the judgment without issuing any notice to his client.