Former MLC moves HC questioning ‘prohibitory list’ of lands, says government targeting BRS leaders

A writ petition filed by former MLC Elvis Stephenson of BRS seeking suspension of a Government Order placing lands in ‘prohibitory list’ will be heard by a single judge of Telangana High Court.

When the former legislator’s plea came up on Wednesday for hearing initially before it, the bench of Acting Chief Justice P. Sam Koshy and Justice Suddala Chalapathi Rao directed the Registry to place the same before a single judge. The GO Ms. No. 341 issued by the State government on this September 23 was challenged by the petitioner, contending that it aimed at selectively targetting BRS leaders.

According to the petitioner, the GO was being used by the present government to target its political rivals and placed lands of 16 BRS leaders in the prohibitory list. The targetted leaders included former Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhara Rao, K.T. Rama Rao, M. Hanumantha Rao (father-in-law of T. Harish Rao), G. Jagadishwar Reddy, Pilot Rohit Reddy, Palla Rajeshwar Reddy Joginapally Ravinder Rao, J. Sowmya and others, the petitioner stated.

The former MLC stated in the plea that he was the complainant in the ‘çash for vote’ case involving present Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. He claimed that Revanth Reddy, who was MLA in 2015 from Telugu Desam Party, offered a bribe of ₹ 50 lakh to him to vote in MLC election as he was nominated MLC from BRS then. The Anti-Corruption Bureau officials registered a case and arrested Mr. Revanth Reddy then, he explained.

The petitioner contended that Mr. Revanth Reddy was the first accused in the case which was pending for adjudication before the Supreme Court now. Mr. Reddy had targetted BRS leaders since he was arrested in the cash for vote case, the petitioner contended.