Criminal Cases Against TD Leaders Will Not Be Withdrawn : AP Govt To HC:- The High Court has been assured by the Andhra Pradesh government that the process of withdrawing criminal cases against TD leaders would not be taken forward in the lower courts.

A division bench comprising Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan and Justice J Uma Devi was given assurance by AP Advocate-General (AG) Dammalapati Srinivas. The bench was hearing a plea filed by YSRC legislator of Mangalagiri, A Ramakrishna Reddy. Reddy challenged the government orders issued to withdraw the cases.

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The petitioner told the court that GOs had been issued to withdraw cases against 273 people including Deputy Chief Ministers K E Krishnamurthy and N Chinarajappa, Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, ministers Devineni Uma Maheswara Rao, Kollu Ravindra, Nakka Anand Babu, K Atchennaidu and Ganta Srinivasa Rao.

The bench during the last hearing had asked Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy to file the details of cases in tabular form segregating the cases of murder, rape and arson. The counsel while submitting the details on Tuesday, said the government did not have the power to order the public prosecutors, to seek closing of criminal cases. They have to act on their own, in accordance with the law. Moreover, he told the court that one MLA was facing serious charges of rape and murder.

Mr. Srinivas submitted that the GOs were issued over the past three years and due to political rivalry, the petitioner had clubbed them, and hence moved the PIL before the court, which was nor permissible in law.

The SC had ruled that the State government had the power to withdraw the cases, said Srinivas. The bench said, “Leave political rivalry of the petitioner. We can also take this matter suo motu in view of the seriousness of the matter.”

To file the counter affidavit, the AG then sought time. The bench agreeing to the request, said: “In the meantime if trial courts close the cases based on application filed by the prosecutors for withdrawal of cases, what would be fate of this PIL?” The prosecutors would be asked to seek adjournment on the petitions, replied the AG. His statement was recorded by the court, which had granted him three weeks of time to file the counter affidavit.

SUPRAJA