The Telangana High Court has granted bail to Arla Gangadhar, an excise sub-inspector from Armoor, Nirmal district, who was accused of being involved in a bitcoin investment scheme. Justice Juvvadi Sridevi, presiding over the bail petition, allowed Gangadhar’s release, despite the serious allegations levelled against him and others in the case.
The prosecution’s case alleged that Gangadhar, along with other accused individuals, had conspired to lure innocent people into investing in a cryptocurrency scheme. According to the prosecution, investors were promised that their investments would double within 500 days. Additionally, victims were reportedly enticed to activate ‘boosters,’ offering them further incentives. However, the prosecution argued that once the investments were made, the promised returns were never delivered, leaving investors without their funds.
In defence of Gangadhar, his counsel argued that the sub-inspector was not running a multilevel marketing (MLM) scheme nor had he collected any funds from the public. The defence maintained that Gangadhar was himself an investor in the company and had no role as a promoter or owner. They contended that the complaint was fabricated by the investigating officer, based on false allegations. “The petitioner himself had invested in the company and is neither the promoter nor the owner,” the counsel argued.
The additional public prosecutor, however, opposed the bail petition, insisting that serious allegations had been made against Gangadhar. The prosecutor highlighted the criminal conspiracy involved in the case and the fraudulent inducement of victims. Nevertheless, the court observed that no direct complaint had been lodged by any victim against Gangadhar or the other accused. It was also noted that Gangadhar did not appear to hold any official position within the company under investigation.
Telangana High Court Admits Writ Appeals on Discom Hiring Rules
In a separate legal development, the Telangana High Court has admitted a batch of 19 writ appeals related to recruitment practices by the Telangana Southern Distribution Company Limited (TSSPDCL). The appeals challenge a ruling by a single judge, who had earlier allowed a batch of writ petitions that disputed the company’s hiring practices.
At the centre of the dispute is a 2018 notification issued by the TSSPDCL for the recruitment of 2,500 junior linemen positions. The notification stipulated that 95% of the vacancies should be allocated to individuals from the local district. This classification has been challenged in court, with the argument that the company lacked the authority to amend or frame new regulations inherited from the erstwhile Andhra Pradesh Electricity Board.
A panel comprising Justice Abhinand Kumar Shavili and Justice Lakshminarayana Alishetty is presiding over the appeals and has requested further clarifications from the discom, particularly concerning the relevant documentation supporting its recruitment practices.
Visually Impaired Candidate Challenges Non-Consideration for Horticulture Officer Role
In another case before the Telangana High Court, Justice Pulla Karthik has taken up a writ plea filed by Boda Gangadher, a visually impaired candidate, challenging the Telangana Public Service Commission (TSPSC) and other authorities for not considering his application for the position of horticulture officer. The petitioner contends that the actions of the authorities contradict a December 2022 notification, which allegedly failed to provide due consideration for his candidacy.
The court is set to hear further arguments in the case, as the petitioner seeks a review of the TSPSC’s decision.
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