Telangana’s TRS MLAs poaching case: KCR govt withdraws consent to CBI

Image courtesy: ANI

Hyderabad: The MLAs poaching case in Telangana has taken a new turn after it emerged on Sunday, October 30, 2022, that the KCR government had withdrawn the general consent earlier given to the Central Bureau of Investigation. The state government issued GO on August 30, 2022, which came to light today. The Telangana Government has withdrawn general consent earlier given to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the state.

This was informed by the Additional Advocate General (AAG) to the Telangana High Court during arguments on a petition filed by the BJP seeking a CBI or SIT investigation into the TRS MLAs poaching case for a fair probe. The notification dated August 30, 2022, was released by the state government today which stated that prior consent will be required on a case-to-case basis for probe in any case.

This comes after the Bharatiya Janata Party moved Telangana High Court seeking the transfer of the TRS MLAs poaching case to the CBI. The Cyberabad Police had arrested the three persons Ramachandra Bharati alias Satish Sharma, Nandu Kumar and Simhayaji the farmhouse in Ranga Reddy on Wednesday evening, after being informed by the TRS MLAs about the poaching bid, which the leaders alleged was done by the BJP.

The government`s Home (Special) Department had issued an order-G.O.Ms.No.51 on August 30 withdrawing all previous general consents issued by it under Section 6 of the Delhi Special Police Establishment Act, 1946, the AAG informed the court.

The Telangana High Court, hearing the plea by Cyberabad Police seeking the arrest and remand of the three accused, on Saturday ordered the three accused in the MLA poaching case to surrender before the Cyberabad police commissioner for further investigation.

However, in a writ petition filed by the BJP in the case, the High Court has stayed the investigation in the TRS MLAs poaching case and ordered Cyberabad police to file a counter in this matter. HC has ruled that further decision will be taken whether CBI or police or SIT will investigate the matter.The HC had issued notices to the Cyberabad police and state government. Notably, TRS had alleged that the BJP is attempting to poach the MLAs by luring them with money, posts and contracts.

Following a complaint of TRS MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy on Wednesday, an FIR was registered at the Moinabad Police Station under Sections 120-B, 171-B r/w 171-E 506 r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act-1988.In the FIR, Reddy alleged that Ramachandra Bharati who came to Hyderbad from Delhi and Nandu Kumar of Hyderabad, both allegedly belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party had met him and offered him Rs 100 crore to join the BJP.

According to the FIR, MLA Rohith Reddy also alleged that they were threatened that criminal cases will be foisted against him and raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if they did not join the BJP. Moreover, Union minister and BJP leader G Kishan Reddy refuted the TRS MLAs` poaching allegations and said it shows the fear the TRS is looming under and demanded the probe be conducted by sitting High Court judges.