In a recent development, the Supreme Court of India strongly reprimanded Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy for his remarks regarding the bail granted to BRS leader K Kavitha in the Delhi liquor policy case. Reddy had suggested that the bail was the result of a “deal” between the BRS and the BJP.
This reprimand came during a hearing by a three-judge bench consisting of Justices BR Gavai, PK Mishra, and KV Viswanathan. The bench was considering a petition to transfer the 2015 cash-for-votes case involving Reddy to Madhya Pradesh due to concerns about potential witness tampering and evidence manipulation.
The hearing started on a constructive note, with the court initially showing reluctance to transfer the case and expressing confidence in its state counterparts. However, by the afternoon, the mood shifted dramatically. The Supreme Court expressed serious concern over Reddy’s comments, with Justice Gavai criticizing the Chief Minister’s statements as inappropriate for someone in his position.
Justice Gavai questioned the propriety of such statements from a constitutional officeholder and emphasized the need for mutual respect between the judiciary and politicians. He warned that disrespect towards the court could lead to the trial being moved elsewhere.
The court also highlighted its recent notice to Maharashtra’s Additional Chief Secretary Rajesh Kumar for suggesting that the Supreme Court was not adhering to legal standards. The court underscored that judicial decisions are not influenced by political considerations and reiterated its commitment to upholding its constitutional duties.
Regarding Kavitha’s bail, which was granted by the court the previous day, Justices Gavai and Viswanathan determined that further custody was unnecessary as the investigation was complete and a trial was unlikely to occur in the immediate future. Following the bail decision, Reddy had claimed that the BRS and BJP had a deal that influenced the bail outcome, a statement that further fueled the court’s ire.
The court adjourned the decision on transferring the case until Monday, reinforcing its stance on non-interference in legislative matters and expecting the same respect in return.
