Hyderabad

A petition filed against Congress leader Meenakshi Natarajan and several others was returned by the Nampally Court after it held that it lacked jurisdiction to hear the matter, according to advocate Ravi Shankar Jandyala, who appeared on behalf of the Congress leaders.

The case gained attention after the alleged non-disclosure of the proceedings was cited as a factor in the rejection of Natarajan's nomination for the Rajya Sabha election from Madhya Pradesh.

The complaint was filed by a Congress worker who accused Kumbham Shiva Kumar Reddy of Narayanpet of sexual assault and criminal intimidation. She further alleged that despite bringing the matter to the attention of senior Congress leaders, including Meenakshi Natarajan, no effective action was taken against the accused.

Explaining the court proceedings, Jandyala said that several respondents named in the petition were either current or former public representatives, including legislators, ministers and former Members of Parliament. He argued that the Nampally Court was not the appropriate forum to issue summons or proceed with the matter.

According to him, the court accepted the objection regarding jurisdiction and directed that the petition be presented before the competent forum. A memorandum was subsequently filed to substantiate the claim, following which the court returned the petition, observing that it should be filed before the appropriate court. Jandyala clarified that the petition had not been dismissed but merely returned so that the complainant could pursue the matter before the correct judicial authority.

The complainant, Srilatha, alleged that efforts were being made by Congress leaders to influence the case and shield the accused rather than support her allegations. She claimed that she had lodged a complaint in 2022 against Shivakumar Reddy over alleged harassment, but the case was later closed on the grounds of insufficient evidence, which she attributed to political pressure.

Srilatha said she repeatedly approached the party's leadership seeking disciplinary action against the accused and requested his suspension from the organisation. She alleged that although she was informed by Meenakshi Natarajan that Shivakumar Reddy had been suspended, he continued to appear at official party events, raising doubts about the claim.

She further alleged that a large number of lawyers and Congress leaders were present in court during the hearing and accused them of attempting to influence the judicial process.

Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Friday dismissed Meenakshi Natarajan's plea challenging issues related to her Rajya Sabha nomination from Madhya Pradesh. The court stated that it was not inclined to entertain the petition but clarified that its observations would not affect any election petition that might subsequently be filed before the appropriate High Court.

Appearing for Natarajan, senior advocate Abhishek Manu Singhvi argued that no charges had been framed against her, contending that under the provisions of the Representation of the People Act, nomination papers cannot be rejected unless such a stage has been reached in the criminal proceedings.

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In response to the developments, Congress leaders organised a Satyagraha in New Delhi, expressing their opposition to the manner in which the matter had been handled by the Election Commission.