Institute of Legal and Management Studies

The Supreme Court on Friday (September 26) upheld the quashing of charges against Jerusalem Mathai, one of the accused in the 2015 Telangana cash-for-votes scam.

The bench of Chief Justice of India BR Gavai and Justice K Vinod Chandran dismissed the Special Leave Petition filed by the State of Telangana in 2016 against the High Court's judgment, which quashed the case under the Prevention of Corruption Act. The Court also dismissed a connected SLP filed by Elvis Stephenson challenging the High Court's judgment.

The case revolves around allegations of offering bribe to then-nominated MLA Elvis Stephenson during the MLC Elections for Legislative Council. The bribe was purportedly aimed at securing Stephenson's vote in favor of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). Notably, the current Chief Minister of Telangana, Revanth Reddy (then a member of TDP in 2015), is another accused in the case.

Notably, Revanth Reddy's petition challenging the trial in the case is pending in the Supreme Court.

Mathai is Accused no.4 amongst 3 other accused persons and as per the investigation of the CBI, he was caught giving bribery of Rs. 50 Lakhs to the complainant on in May 2015 and being in touch with other accused persons.

The High Court quashed the case against Mathai on the ground that there was no specific evidence found against him.

The State, challenging the High Court's judgment, contended that the High Court ignored the series of evidences prima facie connecting the Respondent to the alleged crime as well as the other accused involved in the crime. The evidence also supported the version of the complainant in the complaint dated 28.05.2015.

It further argued that the High Court has overlooked the fact that the respondent has been absconding from the day of the offence was committed, leaving no opportunity to the petitioner to examine him.

Case Details : State of Telangana v. Jerusalem Mathai and Anr SLP (CRL) 5248 of 2016