Latest news with #EVVenugopal
New Indian Express
9 hours ago
- Politics
- New Indian Express
Bribery case outlives the very municipal body where it began
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court has finally drawn curtains on a bribery case that lingered in the judicial system for nearly 20 years by upholding the acquittal of a former junior assistant in the tax section of the erstwhile Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (MCH). Justice EV Venugopal dismissed the state's appeal challenging the 2013 verdict of the Special Judge for Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) Cases, which had acquitted the accused. The appeal was filed by the Inspector of Police, ACB, City Range-II, Hyderabad. The case traces back to February 2005, when B Srinivas, a resident of Begumpet, approached MCH for mutation of a recently purchased property. The prosecution claimed that the accused officer demanded a Rs 500 bribe to process the application. Srinivas refused and subsequently lodged a complaint, prompting the ACB to set a trap. Though the accused was arrested, and the prosecution claimed to have established demand and acceptance of the bribe under the Prevention of Corruption Act, the trial court in 2006 acquitted him, citing failure to prove key elements of the offence. The state, however, filed an appeal seven years later, which remained pending until its final disposal this week. In the high court, the state argued that the trial court had erred despite evidence pointing to both demand and acceptance. The defence maintained that no official favour was due at the time of the alleged incident and highlighted the complainant's admission during cross-examination that the complaint stemmed from a personal grievance after the accused insisted on proper documentation. Upholding the acquittal, Justice Venugopal noted that the complainant had 'categorically admitted' to acting with ill-intent. 'This court does not see any reason or ground to interfere with the well-reasoned and well-founded judgment of the Special Judge,' the order read. With the HC's ruling, the legal proceedings that began in 2005 have now drawn to a close, bringing an end to a case that outlasted the very municipal body where it began.
Indian Express
10 hours ago
- Indian Express
20 years after he was ‘caught taking Rs 500 bribe', Telangana HC upholds acquittal of junior assistant in Hyderabad
Twenty years after he was 'trapped' for allegedly demanding and accepting a bribe of Rs 500, the Telangana High Court recently upheld the acquittal of a man who worked as a junior assistant in the tax section of the Municipal Corporation of Hyderabad (now Greater Hyderabad Municipal Corporation). The bench of Justice E V Venugopal dismissed a criminal appeal filed by the Anti-Corruption Bureau (ACB) against a lower court's acquittal of the junior assistant who was accused of taking a bribe to process a mutation application. The judgment, dated July 16, underscored the significance of the complainant's motive and the absence of a pending 'official favour' at the time of the alleged bribe. The judgment stated that on 'perusal of evidence of P.W.1 (the complainant), it is clear that P.W.1 has categorically admitted that he has filed the complaint against the respondent/accused with the appellant/ACB only with an ill-intention and it is manifestly attended to by the de facto complainant.' The accused was charged under relevant sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act, 1988. According to the prosecution, the de facto complainant purchased a house in Begumpet in January 2005. He submitted an application for mutation in February 2005, and a week later, the accused allegedly demanded a bribe of Rs 500 to process it and stalled the application. Subsequently, the ACB set a trap, and the accused was found to have accepted the money. A sodium carbonate test on the accused's right-hand fingers turned pink, and the tainted cash was recovered from his pocket. Despite this, the trial court acquitted the accused on March 7, 2013 — a decision the ACB challenged in the current appeal. The counsel for the state, Vishal Gandhi, argued that the prosecution had proved the demand and acceptance of the bribe, which should have been sufficient for a conviction. He contended that the trial court should not have acquitted the accused just because no official work pertaining to the complainant was pending before him 'at the time of laying of trap'. However, the defense counsel T V Kalyan Singh submitted that 'in the absence of any official favour pending with the respondent/accused, the demand and acceptance of bribe by the accused is of no consequence'. He also highlighted a critical admission by the complainant during cross-examination that he had lodged the complaint out of a grudge after the accused declined to process the mutation without proper documents. The court found no reason to interfere with the lower court's 'well-reasoned and well-founded' judgment, thereby dismissing the appeal and reaffirming the acquittal. Rahul V Pisharody is an Assistant Editor with the Indian Express Online and has been reporting from Telangana on various issues since 2019. Besides a focused approach to big news developments, Rahul has a keen interest in stories about Hyderabad and its inhabitants and looks out for interesting features on the city's heritage, environment, history culture etc. His articles are straightforward and simple reads in sync with the context. Rahul started his career as a journalist in 2011 with The New Indian Express and worked in different roles at the Hyderabad bureau for over 8 years. As Deputy Metro Editor, he was in charge of the Hyderabad bureau of the newspaper and coordinated with the team of district correspondents, centres and internet desk for over three years. A native of Palakkad in Kerala, Rahul has a Master's degree in Communication (Print and New Media) from the University of Hyderabad and a Bachelor's degree in Business Management from PSG College of Arts and Science, Coimbatore. Long motorcycle rides and travel photography are among his other interests. ... Read More
New Indian Express
25-07-2025
- New Indian Express
Telangana HC pulls up cops for ignoring GO on violations in sand transport
HYDERABAD: Justice EV Venugopal of the Telangana High Court has directed the police to strictly adhere to Government Orders before confiscating vehicles or machinery involved in the illegal mining and transportation of sand. Justice Venugopal was hearing a petition related to the seizure of a tractor by the Nagarkurnool police, allegedly in violation of government guidelines. Referring to GO 15 issued by the Industries and Commerce (Mines) department on February 19 this year, the court clarified that vehicles involved in illegal sand mining and transport should be penalised, not confiscated, if caught for the first or second time. According to the GO, a penalty of Rs 5,000 is applicable for a first-time offence, and Rs 15,000 for a second offence. The order also specifies different penalties for other types of vehicles. However, the police confiscated a tractor for its first-time violation. M Rameshwar Rao, counsel for the tractor owner, informed the court that despite paying the Rs 5,000 penalty, the police refused to return the vehicle.
New Indian Express
24-04-2025
- Health
- New Indian Express
Telangana HC quashes medical negligence case on oncologist
HYDERABAD: Justice EV Venugopal of the Telangana High Court has quashed the criminal proceedings initiated against oncologist Dr Vijaya Anand Reddy pertaining to a prolonged medical negligence case. The doctor had filed a criminal petition challenging the dismissal of his discharge petition by the III-Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate, Hyderabad. The case originates from a complaint filed on April 29, 2013, under Section 200 of the CrPC, alleging medical negligence resulting in the death of the complainant's mother on November 12, 2009. Based on the complaint, a chargesheet was filed against the doctor under Sections 418, 420, 304(A), and 120(B) of the IPC. He had approached the trial court seeking discharge, arguing that no prima facie case was made out against him. He contended that there was an inordinate delay in filing the complaint, the charges lacked the requisite legal ingredients, and the allegations did not disclose any role or deficiency in service attributable to him. Senior counsel representing the oncologist asserted that the complaint was barred by limitation and that the continuation of proceedings amounted to an abuse of legal process. The assistant public prosecutor, however, maintained that since the trial court had already taken cognizance of the offences and the chargesheet disclosed a prima facie case, the revision petition did not merit interference by the high court. After hearing both parties, Justice Venugopal observed that the prosecution failed to demonstrate any causal link between Dr Reddy's medical advice and the patient's death, ruling out the applicability of Section 304-A IPC, which deals with death caused by rash or negligent acts. The court further noted that there was no evidence of conspiracy to warrant charges under Section 120(B) IPC. 'The entire record shows that the petitioner has only suggested some tests to be done for determination of the disease. From an overall appreciation of the facts and circumstances, none of the ingredients of the alleged sections of law warrant taking cognizance of the offence against the petitioner,' the orders stated.
