AP government drops criminal cases against 23 of its leaders

Hyderabad: The Telugu Desam-led Andhra Pradesh government has withdrawn 23 criminal cases against politicians belonging to the ruling party since it came to power. They include ministers, MLAs and MLCs.

While the withdrawal of prosecution for Samaiky-andhra cases may be justified, government orders withdrawing serious cases pertaining to election offences and other serious offences are controversial.

A case of molestation and hurt against minister K. Atchannaidu and a case of attempt to murder against minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao have been withdrawn by the state government.

Deputy Chief Ministers K.E. Krishnamurthy and N. Chinarajappa, Speaker Kodela Siva Prasada Rao, ministers Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Kollu Ravindra, and Nakka Anand Babu, apart from the two named above, were all facing charges that were withdrawn by the home department.

Retired judges to fight withdrawal of cases
A group of eminent persons is now questioning this action of the state government. Retired high court judges, P. Lakshmana Reddy and Chandra Kumar, and former RTI Commissioner P. Vijaya Babu have decided to expose the withdrawal of prosecutions against politicians in the State of AP.  Justice P Lakshmana Reddy said, “In around 23 cases in the state of AP, criminal cases have been withdrawn against politicians, ministers, MLAs by the AP government.”

Minister Ganta Srinivasa Rao from Anakapalli Assembly Constituency was booked in 2009 under Cr.No.15/2009 for attempt to murder (307 IPC), voluntarily causing hurt to the public (332), causing grievous hurt and criminal trespass and for unlawful assembly. 

A case booked under section 130 of the Representation of People's Act (offence during polling day) and section 188 of the Indian Penal Code (violating orders of public servant) on the file of the Judicial First Class Magistrate’s Court, Dhone, has been withdrawn against Deputy Chief Minister K E Krishna Murthy. A public nuisance case has been withdrawn recently against Kollu Ravindra that was booked in 2014. 

Likewise, the government has issued orders for withdrawal of prosecution against Minister Nakka Ananda Babu who represents Vemuru Assembly constituency, Guntur district, and four others involved in a 2013 case. 

They were booked under section 353 for assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty. 

The AP home department has withdrawn prosecution against the accused Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, Minister for Labour & Employment, Factories, Youth & Sports, in a 2008 case. He was booked under sections 354 (molestation), 323 (hurt), 506(1) & (2) read with 34 (criminal intimidation), of the Indian Penal Code. This case has been withdrawn on the recommendation of the Director General of Police. 

Interestingly, the case booked against Telugu Desam MLAs and MLCs in 2007, when they protested against former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and his mining activities in D Hirehal police station in Anantapuram police station, have also been withdrawn. It is a case of unlawful assembly and restraining public servant from discharging his duties. 

Cases against former MLA Nagam Janardhan Reddy, TS MLA Y. Dayakar Rao, the then MLA Ranganayakulu, former MLA B.C. Govindappa, fomer MLC Mettu Govinda Reddy, Minister Devineni Maheswara Rao, former MLAs V Narendra Reddy, Hareeshwar Reddy, Babu Ramesh, Padala Aruna, and Lalitha Kumari, Deputy CM Chinnarajappa, and former legislators Narayana Rao, Y Rajendra Prasad, Masala Padmaja, Amarnatha Reddy and Minister Atchannaidu, were also withdrawn. 

Two other cases have been withdrawn, one against Minister Kollu Ravindra pertaining to 2014 and 14 others, in Krishna district and one against ex Minister N Narasimha Rao. 

Cases have been withdrawn against TD leader Batchula Arjunudu and Minister Kollu Ravindra. A 2012 case against MLA Ananda Rao of Amalapuram in Godavari district has also been withdrawn. 

Cases against YSRC leaders who defected to the TD were also withdrawn. 

A case against Giddalur MLA M Ashok Reddy who joined TD in June 2016 has been withdrawn. The case against ex MLA M Shajahan Basha of Chittoor district, has been withdrawn, as has a case against MLC Reddy Subrahmanyam and MLA Gollapalli Surya Rao of Razole. 

Let off easily

• Minister ganta Srinivasa Rao from Anakapalli Assembly constituency
• Deputy Chief Minister K.E. Krishna Murthy
• Minister Nakka Ananda Babu who represents Vemuru Assembly constituency
• Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, Minister for Labour & Employment, Factories, Youth & Sports
• Kinjarapu Atchannaidu, Minister for Labour & Employment, Factories, Youth & Sports
• case booked against Telugu Desam MLAs and MLCs in 2007 for protesting against former Karnataka minister Gali Janardhan Reddy and his mining activities withdrawn