New Delhi, June 3 (UNI) The Supreme Court Monday restrained Macherla MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy (YSRCP) from entering the concerned counting station and its vicinity on Tuesday, when counting of votes takes place.
Accused of destroying Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) at a polling booth in Andhra Pradesh, Reddy was named in two pleas by TDP polling agent Namburi Seshagiri Rao, alleging that Reddy and his associates entered a polling booth at Macherla and destroyed EVMs.
The petitioner expressed an apprehension that the alleged incident, which took place on polling day, may be repeated on the day of counting, that is, on June 4, 2024.
The Vacation Bench of Justice Aravind Kumar and Justice Sandeep Mehta directed that the respondent (accused) Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy would not enter the counting station where the counting of the votes shall take place on June 4 or within its vicinity.
During the hearing, the petitioner’s counsel drew the court’s attention to certain photographs, obtained from the ECI’s web-telecast. He also produced a video before the court and said that Reddy was belittling the system.
The petitioner said it is a surprise that the sitting MLA goes to the polling station and destroys them.
A complaint is filed that unknown people have committed the offence…until the High Court passes an order, the petitioner said. The accused is absconding but there is the likelihood of his coming back during the counting of votes
