HC junks BRS MLA Kaushik Reddy's plea to quash extortion case
Hyderabad: The Telangana high court on Monday dismissed the quash plea filed by BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy in an alleged
extortion case
. Kaushik Reddy moved an anticipatory bail plea before the high court immediately after his quash plea was dismissed.
The case was filed by the wife of a granite businessman, who alleged that citing public outcry over his granite quarries, the legislator had extorted Rs 25 lakh and was seeking Rs 50 lakh more. The prosecution placed evidence before the court about the threatening calls from the legislator to the businessman. Police produced witness statements of the drivers and others to prove their charge of extortion.
Though the counsel for the legislator argued that he was calling the businessman to inform him about the grievance of the people, Justice K Lakshman sought to know if that was the job of a legislator.
"He should have asked the relevant authorities to verify and act. Instead, he made direct calls to the businessman," the judge said while dismissing Kaushik Reddy's plea.
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