HYDERABAD: Telangana high court stripped Monday former BRS MLA Chennamaneni Ramesh of his Indian citizenship, declaring him a German citizen. The court also imposed a fine of Rs 30 lakh for concealing his German citizenship and misleading the judiciary. This marks the first instance of a former legislator losing Indian citizenship.
Justice B Vijaysen Reddy said Ramesh’s actions since 2009 had deprived genuine Indian citizens of their right to contest elections. The court upheld the Union home ministry’s decision to cancel Ramesh’s Indian citizenship, citing his status as a German citizen.
Petitioner V Rohith, counsel for Congress functionary Adi Srinivas, argued that Ramesh had naturalised as a German citizen in the 1990s after settling in Germany, where he worked, married, and raised a family. Ramesh, a four-time MLA for Vemulawada, has had a long political career since first being elected in 2009.
An inquiry revealed that Ramesh had retained his German passport and citizenship despite acquiring Indian citizenship in 2008.
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