Pressure on BRS to reopen ‘cash for vote’ case
NAVEENA GHANATE
n hyderabad
How to rein in Revanth? This has become a million-dollar question in political circles inimical to an ascendant Congress in Telangana and therefore there is pressure now to expedite the ‘Cash for vote case’, with senior BRS leaders saying this is the right time to stop Revanth Reddy in his tracks.
The ‘Cash for vote’ case was registered by the Telangana ACB and the Enforcement Directorate has filed a money laundering case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002 based on the ACB FIR and chargesheet against Revanth Reddy and others in 2021.
Sources said that both the state government and the Centre could act on it to stop Congress leaders. However, who would make the first move is moot point. Political analysts believe that should the case be brought to fore by ED, questions around Kavitha’s liquor scam would also come up. Further,given the recent meeting of Union Home Minister Amit Shah with TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, the case may not be on the radar again.
Sources indicated that ACB and the ED, in their chargesheets, did not name Naidu as an accused in the case, as they could not get pieces of evidence to prove that the money was sent to Stevenson at the behest of Naidu.
If the state government picks up the case, Revanth Reddy may also get sympathy from people. Leaders believe that the damage from such a move would be more to the ruling party than to Revanth. However, highly placed sources indicated that the next one month would be crucial for the Congress and its leaders to sustain the momentum. Neither BJP nor BRS wants the Congress to grow in Telangana.
Sources said that the Congress was known for internal bickering, so much so that it spilled over even at Rahul Gandhi’s meeting. So, in any step against Revanth, even his party may not support the TPCC chief.
It may be mentioned here that the 2015 political scandal started when a viral video, also aired by the media, showed TDP leaders of Telangana, purportedly offering bribes to a nominated MLA, Elvis Stephenson, for securing his vote in the 2015 elections of the Telangana Legislative Council. A related telephonic conversation, purportedly between then AP chief minister Chandrababu Naidu and Stephenson was also aired by the media.
It may be mentioned here that Chandrababu went to Delhi and met top leaders and later the Central Law Minister announced that they would not interfere in this matter. Then Governor Narsimhan also travelled to Delhi to submit a report on this matter. Outraged by this move, the TDP Ministers and leaders started abusing the Governor.
It may be mentioned here that in 2021, the ED had named BRS MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, Revanth Reddy’s associate R Udaya Simha, former TDP Legislative Council member Vem Narendar Reddy’s son Vem Krishna Keertan Reddy, mediator Bishop Sebastian, and others in its charge-sheet filed with the Metropolitan Magistrate Court at Nampally in Hyderabad.
The ACB booked Revanth Reddy and others under the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC. The ACB questioned 39 witnesses during the investigation.
