Hyderabad news: Former BRS MLA gets relief from High Court

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday granted protection from arrest till June 11 to former BRS MLA A Jeevan Reddy. Justice K Laxman granted the same relief to Jeevan Reddy’s family members and watchman, who were also involved in two criminal cases filed by Sama Damodar Reddy accusing him of threatening them. Both the cases were registered at Chevella and Mokila police stations. Senior advocate D Prakash Reddy, representing the petitioners, argued that the criminal complaints were vague and civil disputes were pending between the complainant and the petitioners. Citing the complaint, he said details of the civil cases were suppressed. Prakash Reddy said that, since the disputed properties between the parties are contiguous at Chevella and Mokila, both the criminal cases were filed with similar arguments. Justice K Laxman said that “the complaint does not disclose the ingredients of the offence of extortion by putting a person in fear of death- Sections 386 and 420 of the IPC”. The public prosecutor, on the other hand, said the investigation was ongoing and four witnesses had been examined so far. The PP then sought time to produce it before the court. The judge said that “custodial investigation of the petitioners is not required in such a case” and directed the police not to arrest the petitioners. However, the court also directed the petitioners to cooperate with the investigation and provide any information sought by the police. Accordingly, the hearing of the case was adjourned to June 11.Protect Katta Maisamma Cheruvu The Telangana High Court on Monday directed the GHMC to protect Katta Maisamma Cheruvu at Suraram village in Medchal Malkajgiri district and disposed of the PIL case. The court was considering a PIL filed by advocate S Malleswara Rao, challenging the actions of the authorities in not protecting Katta Maisamma Cheruvu. The petitioner also pointed out that the officials were so lenient in the matter that the water body went into the hands of encroachers and hence eventually caused serious environmental and drainage problems in the area during the rainy season. A division bench of Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice Anil Kumar Jukanti took on record the report submitted by GHMC officials during the last hearing. The report revealed that the lake is spread over 16.96 acres, the buffer zone is spread over 2.12 acres and the officials have erected chain-link fencing around the lake area to ensure that there is no encroachment in or around the lake and the buffer zone. The bench disposed of the matter and directed the officials to ensure the continued protection and preservation of Katta Maisamma Cheruvu.