Telangana Telugu Desam Party's (TDP) Telangana MLA A Revanth Reddy who was caught by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) on charges of offering a bribe to nominted MLA Elvis Stephenson, "to vote in favour of a TDP nominee during Telangana Legislative council elections," was arrested and sent to 14 days' judicial remand today.
ACB Director General A K Khan told PTI that Revanth Reddy and two others were sent to 14 days' judicial custody. "Reventh Reddy was allowed by the court to cast his vote in the MLC elections today," the ACB Chief said.
Earlier, Revanth Reddy and Sebastian Harry and Uday Simha were taken into custody by the ACB. After interrogation, they were officially arrested and produced before the residence of a magistrate this morning after which they were remanded to 14 days' judicial custody.
Based on a complaint by Stephenson, ACB officials took Reddy and two others into custody last night after they were caught red-handed while allegedly handing over Rs 50 lakh as bribe to the nominated MLA.
"Revanth Reddy and his aide allegedly offered a bribe of Rs 50 lakh as advance, as part of the Rs 5-crore deal.
The TDP MLA and his aide had gone to the residence of Stephenson at Lalaguda in Secunderabad yesterday to hand over the cash when ACB sleuths caught them offering the bribe, Khan had earlier said.
"After the voting, the remaining Rs 4.5 crore was to be paid," the ACB officer said.
After a preliminary probe, a case was registered yesterday and MLA Reddy and two others were caught while handing over the cash, based on evidence. An FIR has been registered againt them under Section 12 of the Prevention of Corruption Act and 120-B (criminal conspiracy) of Indian Penal Code, the ACB officer said.
