Congress seek CBI probe in lawyer couple's murder case, leaders meet Governor
Hyderabad: Led by N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee, a delegation of the Congress party met Governor Dr. Tamilisai Soundararajan at the Raj Bhavan here on Friday and requested her to direct for a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder of lawyer couple, Gattu Vaman Rao and PV Nagamani.
“Gattu Vaman Rao and his wife P.V. Nagamani were hacked to death by TRS activists in broad daylight at Ramgiri on February 17. They lawyer couple, appearing as counsels in different cases, had filed a public interest litigation (PIL) about the alleged custodial death of Seelam Rangaiah, a Dalit man, in the Manthani police station of Ramagundam police commissionerate. During a recent hearing of the matter in the High Court, Vaman Rao, who was appearing as counsel in a PIL filed by his wife, had stated that they were being harassed with false cases and threatening calls from police and others,” Uttam Kumar Reddy informed the Governor in the representation.
Mr Reddy told the Governor that the brutal double murder of the advocate couple in broad daylight in public glare proves that there is a total collapse of law and order in Telangana.
“The general public does not believe that local police would carry out a fair or neutral investigation into the double murder,” he said, while urging the Governor to order a court-monitored CBI investigation into the matter.
Speaking to mediapersons later, Mr Reddy alleged that accused persons in the murder case were reportedly close to Chief Minister K. Chandrashekhar Rao. He also alleged that local police were trying to shield TRS leaders involved in brutal murders.
“The lawyer couple’s murder is directly linked to Manthani’s custodial death, which is again linked to the sand mafia, backed by top TRS leaders. However, local police are trying to suppress facts to protect TRS leaders involved in the murders,” he said, adding that police commissioner Satyanarayana was “acting like an agent” of TRS leaders.
Uttam Kumar Reddy said that although the High Court had directed the Telangana police to submit a report on March 1, 2021, he said that local police could not be trusted as they were being pressured by the ruling party to hush up the matter.
“Chief Minister Rao did not issue a single-line statement condemning the brutal double murders. This clearly shows that CM KCR is giving a free hand to sand, land and mines mafia to establish their control, using murders as a tool to instil fear among common people,” Mr Reddy said.
The TPCC chief said the Congress party would also write to Chief Justice of India, president of Bar Council of India and other authorities regarding the lawyer couple’s murder.
Congress MLC T. Jeevan Reddy, MLAs Sridhar Babu and Jagga Reddy, TPCC SC Department Chairman N. Preetam and senior leader Annaiah Goud were part of the delegation.
Later, the Congress leaders met Director General of Police M. Mahender Reddy requesting him to expedite the investigation into the double murder case. He also requested the DGP to take necessary steps to ensure protection of the family of the victims.
