Revanth Reddy, then a TDP MLA, was caught in a sting operation, allegedly offering ₹50 lakh to Anglo-Indian MLA Elvis Stephenson to secure his vote for TDP candidate Vem Narender Reddy in the Telangana Legislative Council elections.
Published Oct 15, 2025 | 4:30 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 15, 2025 | 4:30 PM
Revanth Reddy
Synopsis: Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Revanth Reddy, told the Court that the trap laid by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the 2015 cash-for-vote case was “completely illegal” as it was conducted before the registration of any First Information Report (FIR).
The Supreme Court on Wednesday, 15 October, heard the plea filed by Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy in the 2015 “Cash for vote” case.
The Bench comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice Vijay Bishnoi heard the matter.
According to Livelaw, Senior Advocate Mukul Rohatgi, appearing for Revanth Reddy, told the Court that the trap laid by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) in the 2015 cash-for-vote case was “completely illegal” as it was conducted before the registration of any First Information Report (FIR).
After hearing the arguments, the court adjourned the case to Thursday, 16 October.
Rohatgi submitted before the Bench that no investigation can commence under the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC) without registration of an FIR. “A trap was set up before an FIR was registered. The trap is completely illegal because no investigation can commence before registration of FIR under the CrPC. There was no general diary entry and no FIR,” he said.
Rohatgi further argued, “The trap was laid, three people were caught giving bribe. I am being prosecuted under section 12 of the PC Act as its stood 2015. It is abetment of section 7 and 11. But in 2010 bribe giver was not under section 7 and 11, only bribe taker. I am an alleged bribe giver. In 2018 amendment was made to bring bribe giver in the net under section 8. So 12 read with 7 and 11 did not include bribe giver as it stood in 2015.”
He argued that even assuming the allegations attracted Sections 7, 11, and 12, those provisions applied only to acts done by a public servant in the discharge of official duty. Casting or abstaining from voting in a Legislative Council election, he said, was not an official act within the meaning of the law.
Revanth Reddy, then a TDP MLA, was caught in a sting operation, allegedly offering ₹50 lakh to Anglo-Indian MLA Elvis Stephenson to secure his vote for TDP candidate Vem Narender Reddy in the Telangana Legislative Council elections.
Audio clips allegedly featuring conversations between Stephenson and then Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Naidu surfaced, raising questions of a larger conspiracy. The Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) arrested Revanth Reddy on 31 May 2015, under the Prevention of Corruption Act and Indian Penal Code provisions for bribery. Telangana High Court granted bail to Revanth Reddy on 3 August, 2015.
