Transfer of BRS MLAs’ poaching probe to CBI: Telangana govt files appeal in HC

HYDERABAD: The Telangana Government on Wednesday filed an appeal in the Telangana High Court against the transfer of the BRS MLAs’ poaching case probe to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

On December 26, 2022, a single judge of the Telangana High Court ordered the transfer of the investigation into the sensational case from a Special Investigation Team (SIT), constituted by the Telangana Government, to the Central agency.

Challenging the ruling of the single judge, the BRS government of Telangana on Wednesday approached the High Court with a writ appeal. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan will take up the hearing on the writ appeal.

The SIT, whose role has become defunct following the transfer of the case to the CBI, has already questioned the three main accused – Ramachandra Bharathi, Simhayaji and Nandu Kumar. The accused were arrested before being let off on bail by the courts. The single judge of the Telangana High Court gave the directions for the transfer of the case to the CBI, based on petitions filed by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and the accused in the sensational case.

The petitioners sought the transfer of the case to the CBI, citing lack of trust in the probe being carried out by the Telangana government-ordered SIT. Taking cognisance of the petitioners' prayers, the single judge of the High Court ordered the transfer of the case to the central agency.