Cops invite judge’s wrath

Friday, May 9th, 2010

About 20 Cases Filed Against Cops In Various Police Stations

OUR LEGAL CORRESPONDENT

Hyderabad: Justice C V Nagarjuna Reddy of the A P High Court on Thursday e x p re s s e d his ire against the functioning of the state police. Referring to about 20 cases filed against the men in khaki in different police stations across the state, he said the police were either indulging in excessive action and interfering in civil cases or were not taking necessary action in the cases where citizens had lodged genuine complaints.

In one case, Justice Reddy called for a report from the SP of Kurnool on whether any departmental action has been initiated against Ameer Pasha, the SI of Kodumolu police station in Kurnool, against whom the judge said there have been repeated complaints.

In the latest petition before the court, he is alleged to have helped the sons and daughters-in-law of Mahbub Bee to deprive her of her only house property. Justice Reddy made clear in his interim order that the court would be forced to draw adverse inference.

In another petition, it was complained that the police in Obula Cheruvu Devula PS in Anantapur were forcing a couple to supply coffee and tea on a regular basis after summoning them on the pretext of investigating a crime in which their missing son Rajashekar Reddy is alleged to be involved.

The judge directed the police not to harass the petitioners Gollapalli Lakshmipathi Reddy and his wife.

In the third petition, the judge directed the police not to interfere with the running of a bar and restaurant at Kharkhana in the city.

The petitioner, Mirthland Hotels, complained that they paid Rs 25 lakh as excise licence fee and even obtained permission from the Cantonment Board. Yet, the police were refusing permission, it contended.

Bail denied

Justice P Swaroop Reddy of the A P High Court on Thursday rejected a bail application by Kattali Mohan, the prime accused in two attempts on Congress Chittoor MLA C K Jayachandra Reddy alias C K Babu. The accused, lodged in the jail since June 2008, moved the court for bail on the ground that the charge sheet was filed and investigations completed. The judge refused to enlarge him on bail after the prosecution informed the court that there were serious apprehensions that if enlarged on bail, the petitioner is likely to repeat his earlier abortive murder attempts.