TDP MLA held for bribe attempt sent to jail for 14 days

Hyderabad: Senior leader of Telugu Desam party in Telangana and a member of the legislative assembly A Revanth Reddy, who was arrested by Anti Corruption Bureau on charges of trying to bribe a nominated MLA on Sunday, has been sent to Chanchalguda Central Jail in Hyderabad.

Revanth Reddy, who was produced at the special magistrate of ACB Court on Monday morning was remanded to 14 days judicial custody. As the court granted him the permission Revanth Reddy was first taken to the State Assembly Building to participate in the polling in Legislative Council Elections. After casting his vote Revanth Reddy was shifted amid tight security to the Chanchalguda prison where he was lodged in a high security barrack. Special security arrangements were made for him in view of the fears by the TDP leaders that there was a threat to his life. Revanth Reddy was given the prison batch number 1779.

Meanwhile the Chanchalguda jail officials have written to the ACB court requesting for the transfer of Revanth Reddy to Charalapally Jail on security grounds. They informed the court that it was difficult for them to make required security arrangements of the TDP MLA in their jail.

All the barracks were packed with the inmates including seven suspected ISI agents and keeping Revanth Reddy with them will pose a security threat, the letter said.

Revanth Reddy’s lawyers moved a bail petition in the court which will come up for the hearing on Tuesday.

Revanth Reddy along with two aides was caught by ACB officers on Sunday afternoon when he was allegedly paying Rs 50 lakhs as bribe to Anglo Indian nominated member Elvish Stephenson to secure his vote for the TDP candidate in MLC polls.

On reaching the state assembly building in police security, the other MLAs of the TDP and the ally BJP warmly welcomed a smiling Revanth Reddy.

Following yesterday’s high drama near the residence of nominated members in Lalaguda area of Secunderabad, the TDP alleged that Revanth Reddy was framed as a part of conspiracy hatched by the Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao to defame the TDP leadership.

TRS and YSR Congress party on the other hand blamed Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu for the attempt to bribe the nominated MLA and demanded booking a case against him.

Revanth Reddy episode also figured in today’s meeting of AP cabinet chaired by Chandrababu Naidu. According to the informed sources Naidu told his cabinet colleagues that this was an attempt to affect the credibility and image of the TDP in Telangana. He alleged that it was the TRS which was indulging in unethical activity by purchasing the members of opposition parties to win more seats in Legislative Council.

Meanwhile the video footage of the meeting of Revanth Reddy with the nominated MLA Stephenson shows the TDP MLA repeatedly referring to “boss” saying whatever he (Stephenson) wants will be taken care of by the boss. The transcript of the video footage was splashed all across the local media in Hyderabad causing acute embarrassment to the TDP leadership.