CBI nabs 6 more for derogatory posts against AP High Court judges

CBI had registered a case on 11 November 2020 against 16 accused and taken over the investigation of 12 FIRs from the Andhra Pradesh CID in pursuance of the orders of the state High Court. The original FIRs were registered on the complaints from the Registrar General of the AP High Court.

It was alleged that the key personnel occupying posts of prominence in the state were intentionally targeting the judiciary and making derogatory posts on social media against the court's judges and judiciary following some court verdicts.

CBI had registered a case to get objectionable posts removed from the social media platforms and public domains. Several such posts and accounts were removed from the Internet.

It had earlier arrested five accused and also filed five separate charge-sheets against them. Investigation is continuing including through the channels of MLAT, INTEROL to collect evidence from abroad, the investigating agency said.

The persons arrested on Friday have been identified as Sridhar Reddy Avuthu, Jalagam Venkata Satyanarayana, Guda Sridhar Reddy, Sreenath Suswaram, Kishore Kumar Darisa alias Kishore Reddy Darisa, and Sudduluri Ajay Amruth. They will be produced before court.

It was alleged that the accused, by intentionally targeting the judiciary, made derogatory posts on social media platforms against judges and judiciary, following some court verdicts delivered by the judges of AP High Court.

After registration of the case, CBI had traced 13 of the 16 accused named in the FIR. Three out of them were found to be abroad. CBI has so far examined 11 out of the 13 accused persons and arrested five of them. Evidence against the remaining six accused persons is being evaluated for further necessary legal action. CBI is pursuing to secure the presence of two other accused said to be living abroad for their examination.

CBI also conducted searches at the premises of the accused persons which led to the recovery of several incriminating documents. It was also found that one accused was allegedly using a passport with a different name.

To investigate the larger conspiracy, CBI has also examined certain persons including an MP, ex-MLA, and continues to investigate the role of other persons who were not mentioned in the FIR. It also initiated action after it had registered the case to get objectionable posts removed from social media platforms and public domains.

CBI also said that the investigation is continuing including through the channels of MLAT, INTERPOL to collect evidence from abroad.