2015 cash-for-vote ‘scam’ returns to haunt Telangana CM Revanth Reddy as SC set to name special prosecutor

The petition filed by Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Guntakandla Jagadish Reddy and others sought transfer of the trial from the state, saying the Telangana’s Congress CM has been publicly making statements on the case.

The plea sought the transfer of the trial to Bhopal for the sake of a “free and fair trial”, pointing out that Revanth Reddy is currently the CM as well as the Home Minister, which could undermine, it added, the principle of natural justice if the trial takes place in Telangana.

The Bench said it will pass orders to appoint an independent public prosecutor to inspire confidence.

The case dates back to May 31, 2015, when Revanth Reddy, the then Telugu Desam Party (TDP) MLA from Kodangal, was arrested by the Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) while allegedly trying to bribe nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson in lieu of his vote in favour of TDP candidate in the MLC (Member of Legislative Council) election held the next day.

Telangana was then ruled by the TRS (Telangana Rashra Samithi, as the BRS was then called) headed by K Chandrashekar Rao or KCR.

The tally of the TDP in the Telangana Assembly then was initially 15 MLAs, which came down to 10 after five of them joined the TRS. TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu had entrusted Revanth Reddy with the task of keeping the rest of the flock together.

At that time the Telangana TDP was beset with dissension and infighting, with senior party leaders like Erabelli Dayakar Rao, the then TDP Assembly floor leader, feeling left out with Naidu “favouring” Revanth.

In a bid to further “impress” Naidu, Revanth was said to be keen on ensuring the win of TDP nominee Vem Narendar Reddy in the June 1, 2015 MLC elections.

On May 31, 2015 afternoon, Revanth had reportedly gone to the house of the nominated MLA from the Anglo-Indian community, Elvis Stephenson, in Secunderabad. Revanth had allegedly been in touch with Stephenson over phone prior to the meeting, and was alleged to have hinted at paying him money for his vote.

Stephenson, who was nominated by then Chief Minister KCR, tipped off the ACB, which set up a trap in his flat by rigging it with hidden cameras and audio recording devices placed at all possible places, and conducted a sting operation. The ACB video recordings purportedly showed Revanth and two of his aides offering Rs 50 lakh to Stephenson, when the police officers swooped down to arrest them.

However, Revanth denied that he was trying to bribe the nominated MLA. He has always maintained his innocence in the matter. He has claimed that Stephenson had called him to his house to discuss a business deal, alleging that the ACB operation was done at the behest of then CM KCR.

He was granted bail by the high court on July 1, 2015 and was released from the Cherlapally Central Prison. A huge crowd of the TDP workers and his supporters had gathered there to welcome Revanth, where he made his famous speech vowing to bring down the KCR government.

The ACB had filed a charge sheet against Revanth and other accused under the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the IPC, among other charges.

In October 2017, Revanth left the TDP to switch to the Congress, days after Naidu removed him as his party’s floor leader in the Assembly.

Vem Narendar Reddy had lost in the June 1, 2015 MLC polls. After spearheading the Congress to a resounding victory in the November 2023 Assembly elections and taking over as the CM, Revanth appointed Narendar as Advisor to the CM (Public Affairs).