Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy apologizes to the Supreme Court for his remarks regarding the bail of BRS leader K Kavitha

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 30: Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy issued an apology to the Supreme Court on Friday after the court expressed strong disapproval of his comments regarding the bail granted to BRS leader K Kavitha.

In a statement on X, CM Reddy said, "I hold the Indian Judiciary in the highest regard and have complete faith in it. I understand that recent press reports from August 29, 2024, may have given the impression that I was questioning the judicial wisdom of the Hon'ble Court."

He emphasized his belief in the Constitution and its values and expressed respect for the Judiciary. "I am a staunch supporter of the judicial process and sincerely regret the statements reported in the media. These comments have been taken out of context. I have unconditional respect and admiration for the Judiciary and its independence. As a firm believer in the Indian Constitution and its principles, I continue to hold the Judiciary in the highest esteem," he added.

The Supreme Court had previously shown strong discontent with Reddy's remarks made after the court granted bail to BRS leader K Kavitha. The court noted that the judiciary does not interfere in legislative matters and that the same respect is expected to be afforded to the legislature.

A bench consisting of Justices BR Gavai, Prashant Kumar Mishra, and KV Viswanathan criticized the Telangana CM's remarks, questioning whether a constitutional officeholder should speak in such a manner. The court directed Reddy's lawyer to review the comments made by the CM.

Reddy had reportedly questioned why Kavitha received bail in five months, while others like Manish Sisodia took 15 months, and Arvind Kejriwal had yet to be granted bail.

The bench clarified that while criticism is permissible, it will continue to perform its duties according to its conscience. The court also questioned whether it should consult with political parties before issuing orders and warned the CM that the trial might be moved out of the state if he did not show respect for the Supreme Court.

BRS leader K Kavitha was released from Tihar Jail on August 27 following the Supreme Court's bail decision. This release is part of an ongoing investigation into alleged irregularities in the 'excise policy case' by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and the Enforcement Directorate (ED).