Special court rejects claim over Rs 1.2 crore seized during 2023 Telangana polls in Kushaiguda
Malkajgiri: A special court dealing with cases against MPs and MLAs dismissed a petition of an accused’s claim over ‘cash seized’ during the 2023 Telangana Assembly elections by Rachakonda police. The cash, allegedly being transported to fund the campaign of Kumbam Anil Kumar Reddy—then a candidate and now the Bhongir MLA—was part of a larger investigation into election-related malpractice.
What is the case?
In November 2023, before assembly elections, Sub Inspector Ch. Jalander of Kushaiguda police’s Flying Squad Team stopped a four-wheeler near Sri Amba Furniture Shop, opposite Spar Hyper Super Market, Nacharam.
When checked, they found huge cash in it. The two persons revealed their names as Bandi Sudheer Reddy and Padala Sharath Babu. The Police seized Rs.1.2 crore from the car.
According to the police, the two accused admitted they are taking said amount to Kumbam Anil Kumar Reddy, the Indian National Congress candidate for Bhongir Assembly Constituency, on
Gurram Laxma Reddy’s instructions.
Further, they confessed to collecting Rs.1.2 crore from Laxma Reddy at Street No 08, Habsiguda. When the police caught them, they were heading to Bhongir to hand it over to Anil Kumar Reddy.
Based on which, the Nacharam police booked a case and started investigation. The police examined the witnesses and on completion of investigation, filed the charge sheet in December 2024. Subsequently, they deposited the seized cash before the trial court.
Contention of Gurram Laxma Reddy, one of the accused in the case
Gurram Laxma Reddy filed a petition claiming ownership of the seized cash and that he runs a partnership firm M/s. GLR Estates and Developers, a real estate company.
Further, Laxma Reddy claimed that he bought a plot in Saroor Nagar Village, Ranga Reddy District for Rs.2.8 crore from Garlapati Chandra Shekar Reddy. He paid Rs.1 crore on different dates towards part payment and entered into an Agreement of Sale. The remaining amount was to be paid before November 2023. As the vendor insisted on the balance payment, Laxma Reddy arranged Rs.1.2 crore from his firm, savings, and others. In total, he arranged the same amount to pay the vendor, but the Police seized it and deposited it in court. Laxma Reddy has to comply with his obligation, and keeping the amount in court custody would cause huge loss and prejudice to him.
What did the court say?
Laxma Reddy’s bank statements do not show that he encashed Rs.1.2 crore on or just before the seizure date, and he could not produce any authentic documents like Income Tax Returns or account statements to prove the seized amounts are hisaccounted and legal money. “Though he contended he pooled Rs.1.2 crore from his sources, he could not produce any sort of documentary evidence to substantiate that he pooled it to pay his vendor and that it is accounted money. He could not state from whom he procured the seized amount or even failed to produce their evidence before the trial court. Even if the Agreement of Sale is genuine, this Court is of the view that Laxma Reddy cannot claim the custody of the seized money at this pre-trial stage unless it is accounted money,” read the court order.
After the trial court dismissed his petition, he filed a revision petition with a Special Judge for trial of cases relating to the Elected Members of Parliament(MPs) / Members of legislative Assembly(MLAs) of the State of Telangana, Hyderabad.
The special judge for the trial of elected MPs and MLAs examined the impugned order passed by the trial court and found“no irregularity or illegality committed by the trial court while passing the impugned order and it requires no interference.” Further the Special court dismissed the revision petition and directed the trial court to keep the seized amount in a Fixed Deposit Receipt. It also ordered the trial court to dispose of the main case within six months.
