Supreme Court Halts Telangana High Court Election Verdict

"Legal Battle Unfolds as MLA's Election Validity Hangs in the Balance"

The Supreme Court has temporarily halted the Telangana High Court's decision, which invalidated the election of Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy, an MLA from Gadwal constituency representing the BRS. A bench comprising Justices Surya Kant and Dipankar Datta has issued a notice to BJP leader DK Aruna, who was declared elected by the high court following the annulment of Reddy's election. Aruna has been given four weeks to respond.

Furthermore, the high court, in its August 24 ruling, not only declared Mr.Reddy's election void but also imposed a fine of Rs 2.5 lakh on him for providing false information in his nomination affidavit regarding his assets. Additionally, the high court retroactively declared Aruna as elected from December 2018 and directed Mr.Reddy to pay her Rs 50,000 for litigation costs.

Aruna, who initially contested the 2018 assembly election as a Congress candidate and was defeated by Mr.Reddy, filed an election petition against him. She later switched to the BJP, where she currently holds the position of national vice president.

Aruna's primary contention before the high court was that Mr.Reddy concealed information about his property holdings in his election affidavit. She alleged that Mr.Reddy did not disclose the details of his 24.09 acres of land in Pudur village, Mahabubnagar district, Telangana, and also claimed that he omitted information about his wife's bank account. Mr.Reddy has appealed the high court's decision to the Supreme Court.