AP High Court Issues Notice On Subramanian Swamy's Plea For CBI/SIT Probe Into Alleged Violence During Tirupati Dy Mayor Election

The Andhra Pradesh High Court issued notice on a petition filed by former Rajya Sabha MP Dr. Subramanian Swamy seeking CBI/SIT investigation into the alleged violence during the election of Deputy Mayor of Tirupati held on February 4

A bench led by Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur issued notice to Union Government, the CBI, Andhra Pradesh Home Department, Director General of Police and the State Election Commission.

Swamy said that the election process was marred by violence, coercion and threats. He alleged that there was failure on the part of the State Police in ensuring free and fair elections. 

He alleged that members of the ruling TDP party had attacked a bus which was carrying the corporators for the election and four ward corporators were kidnapped in broad daylight to prevent their voting. 

The election scheduled on February 3 was postponed to February 4 as only 22 corporators had been present below the minimum quorum of 25. TDP corporator RC Munikirshna was elected as the Deputy Mayor.

Though there was a direction by the State Election Commission to provide police protection, Swamy alleged that there were no effective security arrangements implemented.

Contending that "there has been a severe breakdown of democratic principles, law and order failure, and electoral malpractices" in the election of Tirupati Municipal Corporation's Deputy Mayor, Swamy sought for an independent investigation into the incidents.

He sought for an investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) or a Court-appointed Special Investigation Team and submit a report. He specificially sought for investigation into the role of public officials, including Police Department and the State Election Commission,in the incidents.

Advocates Palak Bishnoi and Yugandhar Reddy assisted Dr. Swamy.