At last, the Enforcement Directorate on Thursday filed a charge sheet in the sensational cash-for-vote scandal in Telangana, naming Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee working president and Malkajgiri MP A Revanth Reddy and others in connection with cash-for-vote scam.
Apart from Revanth Reddy, the ED has named Telugu Desam Party’s ex-MLC Vem Narendar Reddy's son Vem Krishan Keertan Reddy, mediator Bishop Sebastian, and others. The money was supplied by Vem Narendar Reddy's son, the ACB and ED alleged.
However, the investigating agencies failed to prove the role of TDP president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu, at whose behest the money was offered to nominated Anglo Indian MLA Elvis Stephenson for voting in favour of TDP candidate Vem Narender Reddy.
Both the ED and ACB could not produce any evidence against Naidu. Apparently, Naidu’s voice in the telephonic conversation also could not be linked to this scam, as nowhere he had mentioned about the money.
The charge sheet mentions Naidu’s name as part of the allegation made by Sebastian, but not as an accused. The investigating agencies also failed to get the money trial – from where it has come and why it was offered.
The ED has provisionally attached Rs 50 lakh cash offered to Stevension by Revanth Reddy on May 31, 2015. Revanth Reddy was in TDP at the time of the incident, he later joined Congress party.
Initially, the case was booked by Telangana ACB. The ED has filed a money laundering case based on the ACB FIR and chargesheet against Revanth Reddy and others.
It may be mentioned that the ACB had caught Revanth Reddy red-handed while he was paying Rs 50 lakh bribe to Stevension.
The bribe was offered to vote in favour of TDP candidate Vem Narender Reddy in the Telangana Legislative Council elections that were held on June 1, 2015.
Stephenson accused Revanth Reddy of offering Rs 2 crore and a flight ticket to leave the country. The initial payment of Rs 50 lakh was paid and the rest was promised after voting.
ACB captured the complete exchange on camera. A phone conversation between Elvis and the TDP chief Naidu was also verified by forensic experts, and the voice is found to be that of Naidu.
In July 2015, ACB had filed a chargesheet against Revanth and others under the criminal conspiracy and Prevention of Corruption Act.
