Sandra Venkata Veeraiah, ACB arrested in connection with the case of money for votes, was now under judicial custody until July 21 by a local court.
Veeraiah, who was arrested by Anti-Corruption Bureau Telangana yesterday after a daylong questioning in connection with the case, today was produced before a special court for cases ACB.
The defense, however, argued strongly Veeraiah’s arrest was illegal and ordered his release, but the court, on the basis of the report of custody by the investigating officer, sent him to judicial custody till July 21 .
The arrest of Veeraiah is second in the controversial case of money for votes, following the arrest of another leader TDP MLA and party second floor of the Assembly Telangana A Revanth Reddy.
Veeraiah, who represents electoral Sattupally in Khammam district, allegedly made several calls to the co-defendant allegedly Mattaiah Jerusalem before Elvis Stephenson MLA nominated contact in the run up to the polls MLC period.
Meanwhile, the ACB filed a petition seeking five days in police custody even if the defense Veeraiah use of bail move. Both requests are scheduled for arguments tomorrow.
On May 31, Revanth Reddy and two others were arrested by the ACB, while allegedly paid a bribe of Rs 50 lakh to Stephenson, to support the candidate TDP Vem Narendar Reddy in the elections of the Legislative Council the following day.
The trio got bail from the High Court last month.
The ACB also moved another petition, seeking custody of the legislature for five days for further questioning, while the use of his lawyer approached bail. The court postponed the hearing in both requests until Wednesday.
Earlier, the CBA informed the court that the legislature TDP has been included as the fifth defendant in the case, as there is strong evidence of their involvement. In a note presented to the court, the ACB said Veeraiah spoke 32 times to one of the accused, Sebastián Harry, over the phone.
The agency also told the court that Veeraiah tried to evade questioning last month for getting admitted to a hospital in neighboring Rajahmundry in Andhra Pradesh. They also accused him of trying to influence other defendants.
Veeraiah lawyer opposed the request on the grounds that the ACB had no permission from the president of the Assembly before arresting him.
Speaking to reporters outside the court premises, Veeraiah said he was arrested on a conspiracy by the government of Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) to create problems for the TDP. He said he was not afraid of the false case.
The ACB legislator arrested Monday night after questioning the whole day in the office of ACB in Banjara in Hyderabad.
He is the second TDP legislator arrested in the case.
The agency summoned for questioning last month also, but he could not answer. He later sent a letter to the ACB, looking for time of 10 days to appear before it, citing poor health.
Veeraiah represents Sattupalli assembly constituency in Khammam district of Telangana.
The ACB last month questioned V. Narendra Reddy who was set bTDP-BJP candidate in the elections of the Legislative Council of Telangana but was not arrested.
TDP legislator Revanth Reddy was arrested by the ACB on May 31 while he was offering Rs.50 lakh as a bribe to a member nominated Elvis Stephenson reports, to induce him to vote for Narendra Reddy.
