Telangana Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) probing the cash-for-vote case involving TDP MLA A Revanth Reddy, today issued notice to Jerusalem Mattaiah, one of the accused in the case as part of questioning.
In the notice, Mattaiah, named as 'accused 4' in the case, has been asked to appear without fail before the ACB office at Banjara Hills here between 10.30 am and 5 pm, within one week from the date of receipt of the notice.
ACB Additional Superintendent of Police M Malla Reddy in the notice, issued under section 160 CrPc, said, "You (Mattaiah) are requested to appear before ACB as you are acquainted with the facts and circumstances of the case and also to prove your innocence. You are further informed that you will not be arrested in the case when you appear before the Investigating Officer as per the orders of the High Court."
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"You are at liberty to come along with an advocate while appearing before the Investigating Officer," the notice said.
On May 31 last year, TDP's deputy floor leader in Telangana Assembly Revanth Reddy and two others-- Bishop Sebastian Harry and Uday Simha-- were arrested by the ACB while allegedly paying a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to Elvis Stephenson, a nominated MLA for supporting the TDP nominee Vem Narendar Reddy in Legislative Council elections on June 1.
TDP MLA Sandra Venkata Veeraiah was also arrested in the case later.
All of them were subsequently granted bail. However, Mattaiah had moved the Hyderabad High Court.
Responding to the notice, Mattaiah, however, claimed that the Hyderabad High Court had accepted his quash petition and granted stay on his arrest.
On July 28 last year, ACB filed a preliminary charge sheet against Revanth Reddy, Sebastian Harry, Uday Simha and Jerusalem Mattaiah under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act and section 120B (criminal conspiracy) of IPC.
A war of words had broken out between Andhra Pradesh and Telangana states over the cash-for-vote case with AP Police registering as many as 87 cases against Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao and others over alleged illegal tapping of the phones of his Andhra Pradesh counterpart and TDP Chief Chandrababu Naidu as the the phone tapping episode was linked to the cash-for-vote case centred around Revnath Reddy.
