Court orders booking of criminal cases against SKC members

The Nampally Criminal Courts on Friday directed the Punjagutta police to book criminal cases against Justice Srikrishna Committee Members under Sections IPC 153A, 418, 504 and 505.

The Court of the Fourteenth Additional Metropolitan Magistrate issued these directions following a writ petition filed by Telangana People’s Forum General Secretary Mohd Vali-ur-Rahman.

While ordering the registration of a criminal case, the Court said that the Panel Members had not followed the ‘minimum required’ rules and regulations while drafting the Report and submitted a Report full of factual errors. The Report is misleading and will likely misguide the Centre, the Court further said.

In his petition, Mr Rahman had pointed out to the Court that the eighth chapter of the Justice Srikrishna Committee Report was against democratic principles and is in violation of Constitution of India.

The Centre has not made public the eighth chapter, also referred to as the ‘secret note’ and has termed it as a privileged document under Sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act 1872. Earlier on March 23, the High Court had ordered the Centre to make public the contents of the eighth chapter and had criticized the Srikrishna Committee to having come out with such a document.

Taking serious objection over the contents of eighth chapter, Mr Rahman pointed out to the Court that the contents of the eighth chapter were hurtful and an insult to the sentiments and aspirations of people of Telangana region.

Stating that the Panel members have sought to water down the Telangana agitation through their report, he had appealed to the Court to direct the police to book criminal cases against Srikrishna members for creating regional differences between Seemandhra and Telangana people.

Mr Rahman also pointed out to the Court that the Panel’s controversial report on Telangana would also increase differences between Hindus and Muslims.

Taking up Mr Rahman’s petition for further hearing, the Court directed the police to investigate the case and submit a status report.

Earlier, Telangana Rashtra Samithi leader Ravinder Singh from Karimnagar district lodged a complaint in a local police station in Karimnagar last month against the Srikrishna Committee Members taking a serious note over the contents of eighth chapter.