Former Congress MLA approaches Telangana HC against harassment of leaders by Siddipet, Medak police

Hyderabad: Former Congress MLA has moved Telangana High Court against the alleged harassment of party leaders by Siddipet and Medak police.

A single judge bench of Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy heard the writ petition filed by Ex Congress MLA Tumkunta Narsa Reddy and three others from Gajwel Constituency alleging that cops from different police stations are harassing the party leaders, workers, and sympathizers on one pretext or the other.

They said police are registering cases without issuing notice under section 41A Cr.PC and forcing them to sign on blank papers.

Petitioners Counsel Mirza Azharulla Baig informed the Court that the CP Siddipet, ACP Gajwel, SHO Gajwel PS, SHO Gouraram PS, SHO Jagdevpur PS, SHO Markook PS, SHO Mulugu PS, SHO Kukunoorpally PS, SHO Siddipet 3 town PS, SHO Toopran PS and SHO Manoharabad PS are particularly involved in the harassment. He said they are summoning Congress leaders, workers, and sympathizers to the police stations, detaining them illegally, and obtaining their signatures on the printed forms, and bonds without following the due procedure of law.

Baig alleged that the said cops are violating the principles of natural justice, besides violating article 14, and 21 of the Constitution of India. He said police action is also in violation of section 106,107,108,109, 111, and 116 of Cr.P.C. He prayed for directing SHOs to follow the procedure as contemplated in Chapter VIII of Cr.P.C. by issuing the prior show cause notice and passing such other orders.

Special GP Mujeeb Kumar Sadasivuni informed the Court that the Police are summoning only such persons to the Police Station against whom criminal cases are already registered and that too, after issuing notice under section 41A Cr. PC. He said the allegations leveled by the petitioner and others that they are forcibly summoned to the PS are false.

Justice CV Bhaskar Reddy, after hearing the contentions of both the parties observed that during elections, police do have the power to bind over all such persons on whom cases are registered. He refused to entertain the petition, seeking a direction to restrain the police from summoning the petitioners to police stations for questioning. He directed the Registry, and High Court to place the Writ Petition before the Division Bench for further orders.

The Division Bench may hear the matter within a day or two.