TDP lawmaker Revanth Reddy (second from left) had allegedly offered bribe to Elvis Stephenson. (File photo)
The Hyderabad High Court today dismissed a petition by Telangana's nominated legislator Elvis Stephenson, which said the judge in the case was "pre-determined" and should recuse himself from hearing a petition filed by J Muthaiah, an accused in the cash-for-vote case.
The court ordered that a contempt case be filed against Mr Stephenson.
Mr Stephenson filed the petition last week after the court stayed the arrest of Mr Muthaiah. The order came after Muthaiah appealed to the court that his name should be excluded from the FIR in the cash-for-votes case.
In view of the stay order, Mr Stephenson, in his petition, alleged that court appeared to be "pre-determined". And he sought that the judge, Justice Shiv Shankar Rao, recuse himself from hearing Mr Muthaiah's petition.
Justice Rao took a stern view of the insinuation, saying he was impartial and nobody could doubt his integrity.
He said what Mr Stephenson alleged amounted to a contempt of court, and directed the high court registry to file a contempt case against the legislator.
Today, a local court also extended the judicial remand of TDP legislator Revanth Reddy and two others -- Uday Simha and Harry Sebastian -- till July 13.
The three were arrested on May 31 after they were allegedly caught red-handed while handing over Rs 50 lakh in cash to Mr Stephenson, a nominated legislator, reportedly in exchange for his vote and support in legislative council elections in Telangana. The election was held on June 1.