Janwada raid case: HC orders cops not to take coercive steps against Pakala Rajendra Prasad till Oct 30

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court directed the Mokila police not to take coercive steps against Pakala Rajendra Prasad till October 30. Rajendra Prasad was booked by the Telangana Excise Department for alleged excess possession of alcohol in a raid on a house in Janwada on October 26.

Pakala Rajendra Prasad is the brother-in-law of Kalvakuntla Taraka Rama Rao, a former minister and the working president of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS).

On Monday, a High Court Single Bench, comprising Justice Bollam Vijaysen Reddy, directed the SHO of the Mokila Police Station to not take coercive action against Pakala Rajendra Prasad and directed the petitioner to appear before the Mokila SHO (station house officer) and cooperate in the investigation.

The judge was hearing the writ petition filed by Pakala Rajendra Prasad on Monday, seeking a stay on all further proceedings in the case (311/2024), punishable under sections 25, 27 and 29 of the Narcotic Drugs and Psychotropic Substances Act, 1985, and sections 3 and 4 of Telangana Gaming Act, 1974.

Mayur Reddy, senior counsel appearing for Pakala Rajendra Prasad, informed the court about the petitioner. He said the petitioner is a technologist and an entrepreneur who founded the ETG Group in 2000 which delivered world-class software development and managed application services. He said that Rajendra Prasad hosted a housewarming ceremony in the Janwada house, which was attended by his family members including children and the police could not find a single piece of cocaine.

‘Police threatened the petitioner’

The senior counsel further informed the court that the police were filing a false case against the petitioner to settle a political score as the investigating officer served notice to the petitioner at 9.30 am on Monday, with a direction to the petitioner to appear before the police station by 11 am, failing which action will be taken against the petitioner.

“This attitude of the police shows that they intend to threaten the petitioner by filing this case,” the senior counsel said.

Imran Khan, additional advocate general denied all the contentions raised by the senior counsel and informed the court that it was a ‘rave party’, organised at the home in Janwada on October 26, and the police have substantial evidence against the petitioners.

Further, the Addl. AG said that the SHO of Mokila will take necessary action against the petitioner and others if any evidence is found against the petitioners.