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While hearing the submissions being made by the parties before it, Justice Gavai today said "Do we pass orders in consultation with political parties"
Owing to the political submissions made before it, the Supreme Court today expressed its inclination to transfer the trial against Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy outside the state in the case registered against him relating to the cash for vote scam.
A miffed Justice BR Gavai led bench told the state's counsel "You don't have respect for the Supreme Court, highest court in the country..then let the trial be transferred outside the state..".
Court was further told today that Reddy was recently seen criticizing the Supreme Court's decision granting bail to BRS leader K Kavitha. "It is a fact that BRS worked for the victory of the BJP in the 2024 LS polls . There is also talk that Kavitha got bail because of the deal between BRS and BJP", Reddy has allegedly said.
To this the bench responded saying such comments should not be made by a person holding the post of a Chief Minister.
Notably, BRS MLA Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy and others moved the Supreme Court seeking to transfer Reddy's trial to Bhopal.
Court was told by Senior Advocate C Aryama Sundaram that Telangana CM is himself the Home Minister. “There is a rule of natural justice that no person should be a judge in his own cause,” he added.
The bench also comprising Justices PK Mishra and KV Viswanathan, also expressed its view to appoint an independent Special Public Prosecutor to inspire a sense of confidence in all concerned.
On May 31, 2015, Revanth Reddy, then with the Telugu Desam Party, was apprehended by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while allegedly paying Rs 50 lakh bribe to Elvis Stephenson, a nominated MLA, for supporting TDP nominee Vem Narendar Reddy in the legislative council elections.
The instant plea, seeking transfer of the trial to Bhopal, has raised the issue of a free and fair trial saying that Revanth Reddy has now become the Chief Minister as well as Home Minister of Telangana.
“Because a true and fair trial is sine qua non of Article 21 of the Constitution, which declares that a criminal trial has to be unbiased, and without any prejudice for or against the accused, the trial has to be impartial and uninfluenced which is the fundamental requirement of a fair trial and the first and the foremost imperative of the criminal justice delivery system,” states the plea
Case Title: Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy and Ors vs. State of Telangana and Ors.
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