In a setback to Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy, the Telangana High Court on Wednesday refused to pass an interim order for a stay on the investigation by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) against him for alleged money laundering.

The high court took up his petition for a stay on the ED probe against him but refused to give him interim relief.

Rohith Reddy, who is a complainant in MLAs poaching case, stated in his petition that the ED is questioning him to collect personal and family information.

The MLA’s lawyer submitted to the court that the MLA was offered Rs 100 crore to shift loyalties. The court was told that it was only an offer of money and since there was no cash transaction, there is no ground for probe by the ED.

While refusing to pass an interim order, the court adjourned the hearing to January 5.

Rohith Reddy, who had appeared before the ED officials for questioning on December 19 and 20, did not appear on December 27 and he instead filed a petition in the high court seeking to set aside the case and related proceedings.

The MLA reportedly informed the ED that he would not appear before the agency unless the High Court directs him to do so. He reminded that he had already appeared twice before the agency officials even though he was not an accused but the complainant in the BRS MLAs’ poaching case.

Rohith Reddy had earlier alleged that a conspiracy was being hatched to implicate him in a false case as he exposed the BJP leader in MLAs poaching case.

He wondered why the ED was questioning the complainant and not the accused.

On the ED questioning Nanda Kumar, one of the accused in the case, he voiced the apprehension that the ED may get a fabricated statement to frame him in a false case.

He said since he had done nothing wrong, he appeared before the ED in response to its notices. He asked why BJP leaders including B. L. Santhosh and Tushar Vellapally did not appear before the Special Investigation Team (SIT) which probed the MLAs poaching case.

On a petition by three accused, the High Court on Monday transferred MLAs’ poaching case to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy on Monday sought more time to appear before the Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with the money laundering probe but the central agency is reported to have rejected his request.

The MLA from Tandur is likely to appear before the ED officials in Hyderabad later in the day.

Rohith Reddy’s personal assistant went to the ED’s regional office on Monday morning and submitted a letter from the MLA seeking more time to appear.

The ED, in its notice served on December 15, had directed Rohith Reddy to appear on December 19 at 10.30 a.m., along with documents detailing his bank accounts, financial transactions and Income Tax returns.

The MLA conveyed to the agency that he needs time to put together the information sought by the agency and requested a week’s time.

However, the ED officials made it clear that he has to personally appear on Monday.

Rohith Reddy on Sunday met Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao and is understood to have explained to him about the notices served on him.

KCR, as the Chief Minister is popularly known, is believed to have told him not to worry as it was expected from the central agencies since he was the complainant in MLAs’ poaching case.

The MLA alleged that the BJP government at the Centre is using the ED, CBI and Income Tax Department to harass BRS leaders.

The ED notice is reportedly for questioning him in alleged money laundering in the investigation related to a drugs case. He, however, dismissed the allegation by state BJP chief Bandi Sanjay that Karnataka Police served him the notice in drugs case.

The MLA from Tandur was the petitioner in the alleged conspiracy to poach BRS MLAs.

Acting on a tip-off by Rohit Reddy, police had arrested Ramachandra Bharati alias Satish Sharma, Nandu Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy from a farmhouse at Moinabad on October 26 when they were allegedly trying to lure four BRS MLAs to defect to the BJP.

Rohith Reddy alleged that the accused offered Rs 100 crore to him and Rs 50 crore each to other MLAs.

The Telangana government on November 9 constituted a Special Investigation Team to probe the case.

The three accused were granted bail by the Telangana High Court on December 1.