Telugu Desam Party MLA Revanth Reddy, arrested for allegedly trying to bribe a nominated legislator to vote for his party in election to the Telangana Legislative Council, was today sent to 14-day judicial custody.
The court, however, allowed Reddy to cast his vote in the election to the council from MLAs' quota before being taken to the prison, Anti Corruption Bureau (ACB) Director General A K Khan told PTI.
With the development causing a deep embarrasment to TDP led by Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandra Babu Naidu, the party dubbed it as "a false case aimed at defaming the party".
On a complaint by nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson, Reddy and two others-- B Sebasitan Harry and Uday Simha-- were grilled by the ACB last night and produced before the magistrate this morning, after which they were remanded to judicial custody.
According to ACB, Reddy and his aide allegedly offered Stephenson a bribe of Rs 50 lakh as advance, as part of a Rs 5-crore deal. They had gone to Stephenson's residence in Secunderabad to hand over the cash when ACB sleuths nabbed them.
After preliminary investigations, an FIR was lodged againt them under Section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC.
Cash worth Rs 50 lakh, said to be the advance amount for the deal, was recovered.
"We have audiovisual evidence about the alleged deal. It is a cognisable and non-bailable offence. Efforts are on to nab another accused M Jerusalem," Khan said.
As per the purported footage of the conversation between Reddy and Stephenson, aired by news channels, the latter was heard asking Reddy, "Four and half what?" to which, Reddy replied, "Four and half crore." Reddy then said "Total Rs five crore which is what you asked. I convinced my boss".
According to the footage, Reddy also promised to take "care" of Stephenson if anything went "wrong".
TDP sought to turn the table on the TRS by accusing the ruling party of indulging in "unethical practices.
The party also shot a letter, signed by all its Telengana MLAs, to the Chief Election Commissioner demanding postponement of council polls.
The TDP accused Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, who also heads TRS, of luring MLAs and elected representatives from other parties to join his party by offering them money or threatening them with illegal methods like tapping phones and snooping on them.
