New Delhi
The Supreme Court on Monday criticized YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) legislator Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy for smashing an EVM inside a polling booth in Andhra Pradesh, barring him from the counting station. Justice Aravind Kumar, after reviewing the video, stated that such actions make a mockery of the system and that granting interim protection without staying the order would undermine justice.
The bench, including Justice Sandeep Kumar, accepted senior advocate Vikas Singh’s assurance that Reddy would avoid the counting station on Tuesday. The Supreme Court also instructed the Andhra Pradesh High Court to decide on anticipatory bail pleas without being influenced by its previous interim protection order.
Earlier, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had issued an interim order on May 23, preventing police action against Reddy until June 5 regarding the EVM incident. A Telugu Desam Party polling agent contested this, claiming Reddy used his influence to falsely report that unknown individuals damaged the EVMs.
Ramakrishna Reddy, seeking re-election from Macherla for a fifth term, faces charges under the Indian Penal Code, Representation of the People Act, and Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act. The Election Commission, taking serious note of the viral video, ordered his arrest, and additional cases were filed against him for alleged violence on polling day.
