4-time MLA stripped of Indian citizenship, fined

The Telangana High Court on Monday upheld the Union government’s decision to revoke the Indian citizenship of Chennamaneni Ramesh, a former MLA of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi, reported Bar and Bench.

In November 2019, the Union Ministry of Home Affairs cancelled Ramesh’s Indian citizenship for allegedly concealing facts about his visits abroad during the year preceding his application. According to the Citizenship Act, 1955, a person who applies for Indian citizenship should be present in India at least for 12 months before the date of application.

The action was based on a complaint by state Congress leader Adi Srinivas, whom Ramesh defeated in the 2009 Assembly elections in the undivided Andhra Pradesh.