Sitting TRS MP convicted for bribing voters

A local court in Hyderabad sentenced TRS Member of Parliament in Telangana, Maloth Kavitha, to six months imprisonment on charges of bribing voters during the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The court,on Saturday, for the trial of cases related to MPs and MLAs also slapped a fine of Rs 10,000 on her. Kavitha is the second accused in the case. The Lok Sabha MP from Mahbubabad and her aide, Shaukat Ali, were sentenced to six months in jail. The court has granted them bail to file an appeal before a higher court. Ms Kavitha will appeal in the high court.

The case, which relates to a party worker distributing money, seeking votes in her favour, was registered with Burgampahad police in Bhadradri-Kothagudem district following a complaint by election officials, police said. Kavitha Maloth is a Lok Sabha MP representing Mahabubabad parliamentary constituency. judge Ch VRR Varaprasad convicted them under section 171E of the Indian Penal Code (punishment for bribery). The two were present in the Court when the verdict was pronounced by the Judge. Police produced officials of the flying squad and their report as evidence during the trial. Perhaps the first time, a sitting Member of Parliament has been convicted for bribing voters during the 2019 general elections.