Court quashes MLA's election over false citizenship

The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday ruled that Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) legislator Chennamaneni Ramesh was not an Indian citizen. Consequently, it set aside his election from the assembly Vemulawada constituency in Karimnagar district on the grounds that he gave false documents about his citizenship.

Chennamaneni Ramesh, son of Communist stalwart Chennamaneni Rajeswara Rao (who later joined the Telugu Desam Party), is a professor in Germany. He contested as the TRS candidate from Vemulawada and won.

However, one Adi Srinivas complained to the Union Home Ministry in 2009 that Ramesh gave false documents and got dual citizenship. Adi Srinivas of Congress lost to Ramesh Babu by 1,800 votes in 2009 elections.

The petitioner argued that Ramesh, who had German citizenship, applied for Indian citizenship under Section 5(1) (f) of the Citizenship Act of 1955.

As per the section, anyone seeking Indian citizenship should reside in the country for 12 months before the date of application. Ramesh had applied with the Karimnagar district Collector for citizenship on March 31, 2008, mentioning January 22, 2007 as the date of his entry into India. Srinivas, however, disputed this.

The Home Ministry issued a show-cause notice to the MLA. Ramesh later approached the high court, seeking that the home ministry’s inquiry into his citizenship be dismissed. The high court issued a stay on the enquiry.

Adi Srinivas then filed a supplementary petition in the high court. After examining it, the high court lifted the stay. After the high court lifted the stay, the Home Ministry continued the inquiry and ruled that Ramesh was not an Indian citizen.