HC quashes case against Revanth Reddy

Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy received a relief with the Telangana High Court, on Thursday, quashing a case registered against him under the provisions of the Prevention of Atrocities against Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Act.

The case was pending before the Special Sessions Judge for Trial of cases under the POA against SCs/STs Act-cum-VII Additional District Sessions Judge of Ranga Reddy at L.B. Nagar.

Justice Moushumi Bhattacharya, pronouncing the verdict in a criminal petition filed by Mr. Revanth Reddy seeking to quash the FIR, said that Mr. Revanth Reddy, third accused in the case, was not present at the scene of offence when the crime was “said to have been committed”. Since the accused was not present at the time of commission of the crime, invoking the special Act would not arise, the judge said.

She noted that the complainant could not make out the offence against Mr. Revanth Reddy. The special Act was invoked against him without any legal or factual basis, she said.

The case was contrary to the contents mentioned in the charge-sheet. Going by the facts of the case and the details mentioned in the charge-sheet, the HC can exercise powers under Section 484 of the Criminal Procedure Code in the present case, she said.

An advocate B.S. Rao, appearing for the de-facto complainant N. Peddi Raju, brought to the notice of the judge that the complainant had five days ago, filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking a direction to transfer hearing of the case to any other High Court.

Referring to contention of the complainant about the petition in Supreme Court for transfer of the case, the judge said that ‘the parties are at liberty to take whatever steps they intend to take, but this court has passed its orders as it is the duty of the court to pass orders’. 

The case was being heard by the HC since September 22, 2020. A co-ordinate bench of the HC heard contentions of the parties till April 15, 2024. Eventually, the Acting Chief Justice of the HC assigned the matter to the present bench. The matter was heard by the bench on April 25, May 2 and June 14 of this year. The senior counsel appearing for Revanth Reddy, the Public Prosecutor and the counsel for the de-facto complainant presented their contentions. After hearing their extensive arguments only, the bench had reserved orders in the matter, the judge said.