The Supreme Court denounced the purported incident wherein an EVM was purportedly vandalized by YSR Congress MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy as a “blatant mockery of the system.”
Furthermore, the court prohibited his access to the counting precinct and related station assigned for Macherla assembly constituency during the impending tally on June 4.
Expressing astonishment, the apex court questioned the rationale behind the interim protection granted by the high court in such cases. The issue revolves around a widely circulated video depicting the MLA sabotaging the EVM machine at the polling booth in Macherla.
A holiday bench comprising justices Aravind Kumar and Sandeep Mehta deliberated a petition by TDP activist Namburi Seshagiri Rao from Macherla, against YSR Congress MLA. Rao, also serving as the TDP’s tally agent, alleged that the MLA had sabotaged the EVM in Macherla on the polling day.
Rao’s legal representative urged the bench to scrutinize the footage of the occurrence.
“Revelatory Video”
“This is a farce… A mockery, a sheer mockery (of the system)… How is it possible for multiple individuals to enter the polling booth,” remarked Justice Mehta upon viewing the video footage.
The apex court was apprised of the high court’s decision to grant anticipatory bail to Reddy until June 5. Senior counsel Vikas Singh, representing Reddy, expressed readiness to furnish an assurance that he would refrain from approaching the counting station and implored the bench to permit the high court to continue adjudicating the matter on June 6.
SC’s Query Regarding Interim Protection
The bench queried the rationale behind granting interim protection by the high court in such circumstances and added, “let this serve as a precedent… We shall instruct the high court to adjudicate it on its merits without being swayed by its prior directive.” Justice Mehta noted that it isn’t merely about the video, as there are images of the EVM being vandalized on the Election Commission’s website and “it was a live web broadcast.”
“We could disregard the video and photographs. The plaintiff alleges that both the EVM and VVPAT were removed and destroyed… eight individuals barged into the polling booth…,” the bench informed Singh, who retorted that the identity of those who entered the booth is in question.
“Where was the necessity for bail… If we refrain from staying this directive, it would be a travesty of the justice system,” the bench remarked concerning the high court’s relief to Reddy.
‘Video Is Unaltered’
The bench indicated a proclivity to prima facie acknowledge the accusations levied in the complaint. Singh stated that his client was not initially named in the FIR and his name was appended to the FIR ten days later.
“The videos pertaining to the incident, submitted as evidence, are unofficial,” he remarked.
The bench informed Singh that his client could pledge not to be present in the vicinity of the counting precinct. “Mr. Singh, this video is authentic…,” remarked Justice Mehta.
HC Directed to Deliberate on Bail Petition Based on Merits
The bench accepted the respondent’s assurances that he would abstain from accessing the counting precinct and associated station in the Macherla assembly constituency. It deemed the assertion sufficient at this juncture. It instructed the high court to adjudicate on the extension of the bail petition on June 6 independently of the earlier grant of interim protection.
A video depicting MLA Ramakrishna Reddy vandalizing the EVM at a polling booth went viral on May 13. The incident transpired on May 13 during the concurrent polling for the assembly and Lok Sabha in Andhra Pradesh.
The MLA sought anticipatory bail from the high court. The high court restrained the authorities from taking coercive measures against the MLA until June 5 and scheduled further deliberations for June 6.