NEW DELHI – The Supreme Court of India on Monday affirmed the Telangana High Court’s decision to quash a criminal case against Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The case, filed under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989, was dismissed after the top court found no prima facie evidence to support the long-standing allegations.
A bench led by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant, alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul M. Nautiyal, rejected the petition filed by complainant N. Peddi Raju. Raju had approached the apex court to challenge a July 2025 High Court ruling that cleared the Chief Minister of all charges.
“Political Battles” and Inferential Allegations
During the proceedings, the bench noted the often-contentious nature of such legal filings. “We read between the lines regarding how these political battles take place,” the court observed.
The Justices concluded that the High Court’s view was both “possible and plausible,” noting that the accusations against Reddy were largely inferential. The court highlighted that there was no concrete material to establish the Chief Minister’s direct involvement in the alleged incident.
Case Background: A Decade-Old Dispute
The legal battle dates back to 2016, when N. Peddi Raju—Director of the SC Housing Society in Razole—accused Revanth Reddy, his brother Kodanda Reddy, and others of caste-based abuse.
However, the High Court’s investigation found the following:
- Absence from Scene: Revanth Reddy was not present at the location of the alleged incident on January 12, 2016.
- Lack of Witnesses: No witnesses placed the CM at the spot or suggested he had conferred with those involved.
- Lack of Evidence: The allegations were not supported by factual or legal basis, leading to the quashing of proceedings previously pending before the Special Sessions Judge at LB Nagar.
The Conduct of the Litigant
The Supreme Court also took note of the petitioner’s previous conduct. Raju had formerly filed a transfer petition seeking to move the case out of Telangana, during which he made “scurrilous allegations” against the presiding High Court judge. The top court had previously reprimanded Raju for these statements, forcing an apology.
Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the Chief Minister, described Raju as an “adventurous litigant.” Luthra pointed out that Raju had failed to produce the court order containing his mandatory apology for his remarks against the judiciary.
Final Verdict
In its final dismissal, the Supreme Court stated:
“The High Court has considered the material and found no prima facie case for proceeding with the matter… the opinion of the High Court is both a plausible and possible view. The petition is dismissed.”
The ruling effectively ends the criminal proceedings against the Chief Minister regarding this specific 2016 complaint, providing significant legal closure for the state leader.