Telangana: Chennamaneni Ramesh is Not an Indian Citizen as per Telangana High Court Verdict. Court Upholds Citizenship Revocation, Imposes ₹30 Lakh Penalty
German National, Not Indian: Court Ruling
In a major setback to BRS (Bharat Rashtra Samithi) leader and former MLA Chennamaneni Ramesh, the Telangana High Court has ruled that he is not an Indian citizen but holds German nationality. The court’s decision confirms the Indian government’s earlier action to revoke his citizenship, citing procedural violations and misrepresentation.
Petition by Government Whip Adi Srinivas
The verdict came in response to a petition filed by government whip Adi Srinivas, challenging the legality of Ramesh’s Indian citizenship. The High Court thoroughly examined the evidence and upheld the Ministry of Home Affairs’ 2019 decision to cancel Ramesh’s citizenship, asserting that it was obtained through misrepresentation and false documentation.
Court Criticizes 15-Year Deception
Strongly criticizing Ramesh, the court observed that he had misled government authorities and the judiciary for over 15 years. The judgment noted that he had failed to relinquish his German citizenship in a legitimate and verifiable manner before acquiring Indian citizenship.
₹30 Lakh Fine Imposed
As part of the ruling, the Telangana High Court directed Chennamaneni Ramesh to pay a penalty of ₹30 lakh. Of this, ₹25 lakh is to be paid to the petitioner Adi Srinivas, while ₹5 lakh is to be remitted to the Telangana High Court Legal Services Committee.
No Appeal Filed, Penalty Paid
Choosing not to appeal the verdict, Ramesh has accepted the judgment and has reportedly paid the entire ₹30 lakh penalty amount as directed by the court. The court considered his acceptance as a sign of acknowledgment of the procedural violations involved.