In a blow to Telangana’s Anti-Corruption Bureau, the Supreme Court on Friday refused to cancel the bail granted to Telegu Desam Party MLA Revanth Reddy, the prime accused in the cash-for-vote scam, and two others. A Bench led by Chief Justice H. L. Dattu orally observed that Mr. Reddy had already spent a month in jail. Senior advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for the ACB, said investigations were on to unearth the trail of the bribe money and find out the other co-conspirators. “The High Court’s order of bail on June 30, 2015, was given without appreciating the well-founded apprehensions of the investigating agency that the accused, with his political and social clout, may try and subvert the fair investigation into the case,” Mr. Sibal argued.
He said the call data was yet to be found out and the video and audio tapes of the exchange of cash were still being authenticated at the CFSL. “The probe is still very much on and the High Court has made a grievous error,” Mr. Sibal said. He said the High Court had been proved wrong with Mr. Reddy coming out on bail only to make “incendiary speeches” in connection with the case. But the court pointed out that Mr. Reddy had already spent four days in police custody and a month in jail before his release on bail. “There are so many people lying in jails without bail... same yardstick should apply to all,” Mr. Sibal said. Chief Justice Dattu, however, observed that the High Court must have weighed the consequences of its decision as now the judiciary, especially the High Courts, was circumspect in granting bails because one or the other motive was ascribed to judges concerned. The High Court had directed Mr. Reddy and the two other co-accused to furnish a personal bond of Rs. 5 lakh each and two sureties of similar amount, besides asking them to cooperate with the investigating agency.
It pointed out that the TDP MLA had already spent a month in jail
