Cash‑For‑Vote Case: CM Revant Reddy Gets Passport for Multi‑Country Tour

The chief minister of Telangana, A. Revant Reddy, who stands at the centre of the cash‑for‑vote scandal, has received a court’s nod to travel abroad for an official delegation. The special chief judge in charge of SPE and ACB proceedings directed that his passport be re‑issued, permitting visits to Britain, America, Germany and China between 17 August and 10 September.

The permission is not unconditional. Reddy must post a personal bond of INR 1 lakh with a guarantor, furnish a detailed itinerary, share real‑time contact information during the trip, and sign an oath to return the passport by 18 September. The Ministry of External Affairs must also grant political clearance prior to departure.

Reddy’s involvement in the cash‑for‑vote case dates back to his arrest by the Anti‑Corruption Bureau on 31 May 2015. He was accused of offering a bribe of INR 50 lakh to nominated MLA Elvy Stevens to secure the election of TDP candidate Vem Narendra Reddy in the 2015 Council polls. After nearly a month in jail, the high court released him on bail along with two others.

Earlier directives from the high court required Reddy to surrender his passport and assist investigative agencies, as well as seek ACB court permission before travelling abroad. The latest order modifies those requirements, allowing the chief minister to proceed with his overseas agenda while imposing robust oversight mechanisms.