Telangana High Court Grants Anticipatory Bail to BRS Leader Pilot Rohith Reddy in Election Code Violation Case
The Telangana High Court has granted anticipatory bail to BRS leader and former Tandur MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy, along with eight other individuals, in a case involving alleged violations of the model code of conduct during the recent municipal election counting in Tandur, Vikarabad district. The decision was delivered by Justice K Sujana on Friday, providing relief to the petitioners who faced potential arrest in connection with the incident.
Details of the Alleged Incident and Legal Proceedings
The case stems from an event on February 13, when Rohith Reddy and the others are accused of forcibly entering the counting center in Tandur while vote counting was underway. This action allegedly contravened explicit instructions issued by police personnel stationed at the venue to maintain order and security during the electoral process. The registration of the case followed these allegations, prompting the petitioners to seek anticipatory bail to avoid custodial interrogation.
In her ruling, Justice Sujana noted that the witnesses cited in the case are public servants, and it was not demonstrated that custodial interrogation of the petitioners was absolutely necessary at this stage of the investigation. This observation played a key role in the court's decision to grant bail, emphasizing a balanced approach to justice while ensuring the integrity of the legal process.
Conditions Imposed by the Court for Bail
The court has set specific conditions for the bail grant, requiring the petitioners to surrender before the station house officer of Tandur town police station within two weeks from the date of the order. Upon surrender, they will be released on bail after executing a personal bond of ₹25,000 each, supported by two sureties for an equivalent amount.
Additionally, the petitioners must comply with all conditions outlined under the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and cooperate fully with the investigating officer. They are also mandated to appear before the concerned investigating officer every Monday between 9 am and 5 pm for a period of eight weeks, or until the filing of the chargesheet, whichever occurs earlier. After this period, they must continue to appear as required by the investigation.
This ruling underscores the judiciary's role in safeguarding individual rights while addressing allegations of electoral misconduct, setting a precedent for similar cases in the future.
