‘Operation Lotus’ in Telangana: High Court permits custody of BJP accused to police
Hyderabad: The High Court has said that the three men, who had been detained in the state for trying to poach legislators from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), could be taken back into custody.
The High Court issued the order on Saturday, overturning the order of a lower court, which had turned down a police plea seeking the custody of the three men and permitted their release on Thursday, reports NDTV.
Citing lack of evidence, the High Court has asked the police to question the accused, who are reportedly linked to the BJP. The police have been told to do so by issuing the accused notices under Section 41, which allows the police to make an arrest without issuing a warrant.
The accused, who were arrested at a farmhouse near Hyderabad on Wednesday night, had reportedly been caught trying to bribe four MLAs of the BRS and get them to join the BJP, which has been termed by the opponents of the BJP as ‘Operation Lotus’.
The police have said that Pilot Rohit Reddy, one of the BRS legislators who were being lured and owner of the farmhouse, tipped them of the BJP offer. An FIR, registered based on the complaint filed by Reddy, alleges that the four MLAs were being offered Rs 250 crore to join the BJP.
Telangana police chief Stephen Raveendra told NDTV that the MLAs called the police and complained of the BJP attempt to lure them. “They said that they were being offered big money, contracts and posts to switch parties,” he added.
The FIR by Rohit Reddy said that they also faced a threat of criminal cases against them, ED and/or CBI raids and that the state government in Telangana would be toppled if the MLAs refused to join the BJP.
The BJP, however, has denied the allegation. It has, instead, accused that it is a BRS drama ‘scripted, directed and produced’ by the Telangana chief minister.
Gujjula Premendar Reddy, state general secretary of the BJP, has also moved the High Court, seeking a transfer of the case to the CBI. He has called it a conspiracy by the BRS to defame the BJP.
Reddy has also accused the Telangana police of acting at the behest of the ruling party.
Kishen Reddy, Union minister and BJP senior leader in Telangana, has said that the BJP had no reason to offer the MLAs such a huge amount of money when the party had a comfortable majority.
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CM Siddaramaiah alleges ‘criminal conspiracy’ in Sringeri recount, vows legal action
Bengaluru (PTI): Alleging a “criminal conspiracy” by BJP candidate D N Jeevaraj in the Sringeri Assembly poll recounting, Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah on Tuesday said the outcome was manipulated after valid postal ballot votes in favour of Congress leader T D Raje Gowda were tampered with during the recounting process.
Following a Karnataka High Court order on an election petition filed by Jeevaraj, challenging Raje Gowda’s election, the reverification and recounting were conducted on Saturday.
After the reverification and recount of postal ballots for the Sringeri Assembly constituency, votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda were reduced by 255, the returning officer said.
A report on the matter has been submitted to the Election Commission of India for further action, the officer added.
Congress leader Raje Gowda had won the 2023 Assembly polls from Sringeri by 201 votes, defeating his nearest rival Jeevaraj.
Addressing a press conference in Bengaluru, Siddaramaiah said the High Court had directed the recounting of postal ballots and that irregularities were noticed during the exercise conducted on May 2.
“This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” Siddaramaiah said, alleging that valid votes cast in favour of Raje Gowda were altered after being accepted by counting agents of all parties, including Congress, BJP, and JD(S).
He claimed that during the recounting of postal ballots, 255 votes were initially accepted as valid by all agents but were later tampered with by subordinate officials.
“There is a second mark on the votes polled in favour of Raje Gowda. They had accepted these as valid votes. Subsequently, another mark was made by officials. This is a clear case of criminal conspiracy,” he said.
When asked who was behind the alleged conspiracy, the CM replied, “It was hatched by Jeevaraj and others. It is planned.”
Siddaramaiah further alleged that the returning officer acted improperly by declaring the result despite the presence of an Election Commission observer during the recounting.
“Immediately after the counting, the returning officer announced the result. He should not have done so; this is against the law,” he said.
He pointed out that Raje Gowda had originally won by 201 votes, but after the recounting, the BJP candidate was declared the winner by 52 votes.
“The BJP has committed a criminal act of conspiracy. This is not vote chori but vote dacoity,” he alleged.
The CM said a police complaint had already been filed by Raje Gowda’s election agent, Sudhir Kumar, and emphasised the need for electoral integrity.
“We want transparency and free and fair elections. That is what our Constitution mandates,” he added.
Stating that the government would pursue legal remedies, Siddaramaiah said, “We are preparing an appeal challenging the returning officer’s announcement in a court of law.”
Responding to a separate query on elections in other states, the CM said there appeared to be an anti-incumbency factor in West Bengal, while results in Tamil Nadu were “surprising,” adding that Vijay’s party was emerging as the largest there.
Following the victory of party candidates in Bagalkote and Davanagere South, Siddaramaiah expressed confidence about future electoral prospects in Karnataka.
“Even in 2028, we will win the Assembly elections. We will come back,” the CM said.
Siddaramaiah added that he would order a forensic examination into the alleged tampering of postal ballots.
