PNS|Hyderabad
Chief Minister Revanth Reddy once again failed to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) court in the long-pending Note-for-Vote case, drawing the ire of the judge.
Despite clear directions issued during the previous hearing for all the accused to be present on Friday (June 13), the key accused Revanth Reddy (A1), Uday Simha (A2), Sebastian (A3), and Vem Keerthan (A5) were absent at the Nampally court. Only Jerusalem Mathaiah (A4) and Sandhya Venkata Veeraiah (also listed as A5) appeared in court.
During the proceedings, Mathaiah pleaded with the judge to start the trial immediately, pointing out that even 10 years after the case began, the ED court had not commenced trial.
Raising pointed questions, Mathaiah asked whether Revanth Reddy, who has held the posts of Malkajgiri MP, TPCC President, and is now the Chief Minister, truly lacks time to attend court in the heart of Hyderabad.
“Or does he not respect the court at all?” he asked, addressing the judge.
The court observed that Revanth’s legal team continues to seek adjournments, citing one excuse or another, stalling the trial. Mathaiah highlighted the irony that while the Chief Minister has been appearing in minor election-related cases in other courts with confidence, he continues to evade even a basic identification appearance in this ED case.
He urged the public prosecutor to impress upon the court the need to begin the trial at the earliest, stating that his health and financial condition had worsened due to the prolonged case. Mathaiah revealed he recently underwent surgery for a tumour near a nerve in his leg and could barely walk, making repeated court visits a severe burden.
Meanwhile, the legal representatives of Vem Narendra Reddy, who is Chief Advisor to the government, informed the court that a quash petition filed in the Supreme Court on behalf of his son Vem Keerthan was pending. With the SC on vacation, they requested more time, stating it would reopen on July 13.
Considering all arguments, the judge issued a stern warning, making it clear that July 25 would be the final opportunity for all the accused, including Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, to appear.
Mathaiah concluded by demanding that Revanth respect the judiciary and attend court so that others like him, burdened by repeated adjournments, can finally be freed from the ordeal.
