Justice T. Vinod Kumar of Telangana High Court on Thursday allowed an election petition filed by BJP leader D.K. Aruna, who contested as Congress nominee from Gadwal constituency in 2018 Assembly elections, declaring void the election of BRS MLA Bandla Krishna Mohan Reddy.
The Judge, while imposing a fine of ₹2.5 lakh on Mr. Reddy for filing the election affidavit in 2018, declared Ms. Aruna as elected candidate from Gadwal Assembly Constituency with retrospective effect from December 12, 2018. Justice Vinod Kumar also directed Mr. Reddy to pay ₹50,000 to Ms. Aruna towards costs.
This is the second instance of the High Court declaring invalid the election of an MLA from Telangana Assembly. Nearly a month ago, Justice G. Radha Rani of the High Court set aside the election of BRS MLA Vanama Venkateswara Rao from Kothagudem constituency. The High Court declined to temporarily suspend the verdict.