New Delhi, Sep 20 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Friday accepted the apology tendered by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy for his comments on the recent order of the Apex Court granting bail to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLC K Kavitha.
A Division Bench of Justice BR Gavai and Justice KV Viswanathan took note of the apology and closed the proceedings about Reddy’s comments and advised that ‘all constitutional functionaries, be it Executive, Legislature or Judiciary perform their constitutional duties and should exercise caution and avoid making unnecessary remarks that could create friction between wings of the government’.
The Bench while noting the apology said, “ We close the matter on Reddy comments and do not wish to proceed further. “We only advise that one should be careful enough while making comments about orders of this court, even as fair criticism is welcome,” it said.
The Chief Minister had said that Kavitha got bail from the Supreme Court because of a tacit understanding between the BRS and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP).
After K Kavitha got bail from the Top Court in the money laundering case relating to the new Excise Policy for Delhi, Reddy had said.” BRS worked for the victory of the BJP in the 2024 LS polls. There is also talk that Kavitha got bail because of the deal between BRS and BJP,”
The Supreme Court had taken objection to the same on August 29 while hearing a transfer petition filed by four BRS lawmakers seeking that the trial against Reddy in the 2015 cash-for-votes case be shifted to a court outside Telangana.
The Supreme Court was hearing a plea filed by four BRS lawmakers to transfer the trial against Telangana Chief Minister in the 2015 cash-for-votes case to a court outside Telangana.
Senior Advocates Sidharth Luthra and Mukul Rohatgi appeared for Reddy and senior advocate Menaka Guruswamy appeared for the Telangana Government.
The plea was moved claiming that a fair trial against Reddy would not be possible within Telangana given his present status as the state’s Chief Minister.
The apex court had in February issued notice in the matter.
When the matter was heard today, the Court observed that there was no need to transfer the case as the petitioners themselves had expressed confidence in the prosecution.
The Court noted, “In the last hearing, to allay apprehension, the petitioner has suggested that a new prosecutor be appointed in the case. Today they say they have full faith in the prosecution. We are, therefore, not inclined to entertain the matter at this stage,” the Court said while closing the transfer petition.
The Court further directed the Chief Minister not to interfere with the prosecution of proceedings and ordered that the Director General of Police (DGP) of the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) would not report to Reddy regarding the prosecution of the case.
The Court warned Reddy that if the petitioners find any interference by Reddy, the prayers in the plea could be revived.
