Telangana HC hears plea over alleged extortion bid to withdraw PIL

The Telangana High Court heard arguments on a plea seeking quashing of an FIR alleging a Rs 3-crore demand to withdraw a PIL challenging plot regularisation in Banjara Hills. The Court adjourned the matter for further hearing

Hyderabad: Justice J Sreenivas Rao of the Telangana High Court on Friday heard arguments in a criminal petition arising out of allegations that a Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was used to demand money for its withdrawal, with both sides making serious accusations against each other. The matter concerns a PIL filed by Gadila Raghuveera Reddy, a resident of Kondapaka in Siddipet district, relating to the regularisation of plots in NBT Nagar, Banjara Hills.

The PIL seeks quashing of GO Ms No. 56 issued by the State Government concerning regularisation of certain plots allegedly linked to K Venkateswara Rao, son of former MP and senior Congress leader Dr K Kesava Rao, and GHMC Mayor Gadwal Vijayalakshmi.

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During the hearing, counsel appearing for K Venkateswara Rao submitted that Raghuveera Reddy had allegedly threatened to withdraw the PIL if an amount of Rs 3 crore was paid. It was contended that several WhatsApp messages were sent demanding money in exchange for withdrawing the case pending before the High Court. Based on a complaint lodged by Venkateswara Rao, the Banjara Hills police registered an FIR against Raghuveera Reddy.

Raghuveera Reddy subsequently approached the High Court seeking quashing of the criminal proceedings registered against him.

Arguing on his behalf, counsel submitted that the complaint was a false and filed as a retaliatory action only because the PIL had been filed questioning the land regularisation. It was contended that there was no material evidence to justify registration of the FIR and that the criminal case was initiated out of personal grievance.

Counsel appearing for the complainant Venkateswara Rao, opposed the plea and argued that substantial material, including WhatsApp chats, screenshots and video evidence, clearly showed that a demand of Rs 3 crore was made for withdrawal of the PIL.

They questioned why the petitioner, who allegedly had no personal connection with Venkateswara Rao, would send such communications unless there was an attempt to exert pressure. It was further argued that the accused was misusing the legal process by filing proceedings and simultaneously issuing threats to secure monetary gain.

After hearing submissions from both sides, Justice J Sreenivas Rao adjourned the matter to Monday for further hearing.