HC Sentences Saroornagar ACP To One-Month Imprisonment
Justice K. Sujana faulted the explanation of the officer in explaining the violation of court orders: Reports
HYDERABAD: The Telangana High Court has sentenced Saroornagar ACP A. Krishnaiah to imprisonment for a month for arresting a hospitalised accused in a dowry-death case, despite its orders restraining the action, after the officer told the court that he had proceeded with the arrest due to “pressure” on him. The court also imposed a fine of ₹2,000 for wilfully disobeying its orders.
Justice K. Sujana faulted the explanation of the officer in explaining the violation of court orders. The officer while submitting that he was compelled to arrest the accused also stated that he was not aware of the court orders. Counsel for the accused submitted to the court that the officer was specifically informed about the court₹s directions. Despite this, the DCP had pressured the hospital authorities to discharge the accused and arrested him, counsel said and submitted evidence. After considering it, the court viewed the officer₹s conduct as amounting to a deliberate disregard and violation of the orders of the court.
The judge held that the police officer could not claim ignorance of the extended protection after having been aware of the court’s initial order and failing to verify its subsequent status.
However, on the request of public prosecutor Palle Nageshwar Rao, the High Court suspended the operation of the sentence till October 19, to enable the state to challenge the order before a higher court.
The court passed the order on Friday in a contempt case filed by Katta Vamsi Krishna, who alleged that the police had violated the interim protection granted to him in a criminal petition. The High Court had directed the investigating officer on April 21 to not arrest Krishna till April 23, and the protection was subsequently extended on April 23 and again on April 27.
Despite the subsisting order, the ACP arrested Krishna on April 28 and produced him before the jurisdictional magistrate and sought his remand. After the defence brought the High Court’s orders to the magistrate’s notice, the remand was rejected and Krishna was ordered to be released.