A special court in Hyderabad has summoned Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, instructing him to appear in person on September 25 in connection with a criminal defamation case filed by a BJP leader. The case accuses Reddy of making false and baseless allegations against the BJP during the recent Lok Sabha election campaign.
The Special Judicial First Class Magistrate (JFCM) for Excise Cases, after reviewing the documents submitted by the complainant, examining the witnesses, and hearing the arguments from the complainant’s counsel, issued the summons to Reddy. The charges include offences under Sections 499, 171C, 171G, and 153 of the Indian Penal Code and Section 125 of the Representation of Peoples Act. Reddy is required to appear before the court on September 25.
Telangana BJP General Secretary Kasam Venkateshwarlu had earlier filed a complaint with the Special JFCM for Excise Cases, accusing the chief minister of making defamatory statements during a Lok Sabha election meeting in Bhadradri Kothagudem district on May 4. Reddy allegedly claimed that the BJP, if elected to power, would amend the Constitution and abolish reservations.
The petitioner argued that these statements were misleading, false, and damaging to the party’s reputation among voters. The complaint also asserted that making such “false statements with intent to unduly influence voters” constitutes an election offence under the law.
After examining the complainant and another witness, and reviewing the complaint along with the submitted materials, the Special JFCM for Excise Cases determined on August 21 that a prima facie case existed against the accused under Section 499 of the IPC and Section 125 of the Representation of Peoples Act.
Earlier, following an adjournment of the complaint by the Special JFCM for Excise Cases, the BJP leader had approached the Telangana High Court with a criminal petition, seeking direction for the lower court to investigate his complaint.
In June, the Telangana High Court directed the Special Judicial First Class Magistrate (JFCM) for Excise Cases to proceed with the case and resolve the complaint expeditiously in accordance with the law.
The High Court disposed of the criminal petition by directing the magistrate to conduct day-to-day hearings and expedite the proceedings on the complaint.
