The Supreme Court on Thursday took strong objection to the comments of Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy regarding the bail granted to BRS leader K Kavitha in the cases related to the alleged Delhi Excise Policy scam. Reddy had pointed to the alleged deal between the BJP and BRS for Kavitha’s bail. Expressing displeasure over his statement, the apex court said that such statements can create apprehensions in the minds of people.
A three-judge bench headed by Justice B.R. Gavai told senior advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Reddy, “Did you read in the newspaper what he said? Just read what he said. What kind of statement is this from a responsible chief minister? This can create apprehensions in the minds of people. Should a chief minister make such a statement? A person holding a constitutional post is speaking like this?”
The bench said, “Why should they drag the court into political rivalry? Do we pass orders after consulting political parties? We have no problem with political leaders or anyone else criticizing our decisions. We perform our duty as per our conscience and oath.”
Speaking to reporters on Tuesday, Reddy had said there were doubts about MLC Kavitha getting bail in five months, while Aam Aadmi Party leader Manish Sisodia got bail after 15 months and Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal is yet to get bail.
He alleged, ‘It is true that BRS worked for the victory of BJP in the 2024 Lok Sabha elections. There is also talk that Kavitha got bail due to an agreement between BRS and BJP.’
The apex court said that it is a fundamental duty to have mutual respect for institutions and not to interfere in each other’s field. The bench said, ‘We always say that we will not interfere in the legislature, so the same is expected from them. Do we pass orders based on political considerations?’ The bench also comprises Justice P K Mishra and Justice K V Vishwanathan.
The apex court was hearing a plea seeking transfer of the trial in the 2015 ‘cash for vote’ scam case from the state to Bhopal, in which Reddy is an accused. In the morning, the apex court had said it will appoint a special prosecutor to hear the 2015 ‘cash for vote’ scam case.
When the matter came up for hearing in the afternoon, the court discussed possible names, including advocates Surendra Rao and E Uma Maheshwara Rao. The lawyer appearing for the petitioners in the case cited Reddy’s statements and said the bench should ask the police to report directly to the court about the progress of their investigation in the cash-for-vote case, and not to the chief minister. Reddy also holds the home portfolio.
“Look at the manner in which you (Reddy) made the statement. Such a statement by a chief minister!” the bench remarked and asked Rohatgi to look at the statement.
Rohatgi apologised on behalf of Reddy and said, “Let me correct my mistake and list the matter for hearing on Monday.” A visibly angry bench told Rohatgi, “If you do not respect the Supreme Court, then get the hearing done somewhere else.” The bench listed the matter for hearing on Monday.
At the beginning of the hearing, senior advocate C Aryama Sundaram, appearing for Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader and MLA G Jagadish Reddy and three others, sought transfer of the case, saying the Telangana chief minister was making public statements on the matter.
The bench said, ‘How can we consider (the petition) on the basis of mere apprehension… If we consider such petitions, it will be like not trusting our judicial officers.’ Sundaram said that the Chief Minister of Telangana is himself the Home Minister. He said, ‘The rule of natural justice is that no person should be a judge in his own case.’
As a leader of Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Revanth Reddy was arrested by Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) on May 31, 2015 for allegedly offering a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson to support TDP candidate Vem Narendran Reddy in the Legislative Council election.
