Habeas corpus petition filed by Maoist leaders’ kin dismissed

Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh high court on Friday dismissed a habeas corpus petition seeking directions to produce Maoist leaders Thippiri Tirupati, alias Devji, and Malla Raji Reddy before the court. The petition was jointly filed by Thippiri Gangadhar, brother of Devji, and Malla Snehalatha, daughter of Raji Reddy.

The high court observed that there was no prima facie evidence to suggest that leaders of the banned outfit were in police custody and hence it could not intervene in the matter at this stage. The court, however, granted liberty to the petitioners to approach it again if they find any evidence in support of their contention.


Following the arrest of 51 Maoists from various places in the state, including nine members from Devji's security, Gangadhar and Snehalatha had moved the high court with a house motion petition seeking an urgent hearing. The court posted the matter for hearing on Thursday.

A bench of Justices Ch Manavendranath Roy and G Tuhin Kumar asked the petitioners the basis for their contention. The counsels for the petitioners, U Jai Bhim Rao and Gutta Rohith, told the court that the police claimed they arrested the personnel on Devji's security detail and had information about the top leadership. The bench asked them to submit the material from which a prima facie case could be made out for the high court to intervene and posted the matter for further hearing to Friday.

Following the high court's direction, Bhim Rao submitted video clippings of the press briefing held by Mahesh Chandra Laddha, additional director general of police (Intelligence), and various articles published in newspapers. After verifying the footage and the paper clippings, the bench observed that there was no material to suggest that police had arrested the Maoist leaders.

Special govt pleader T Vishnu Teja also submitted that Laddha denied arresting Devji or any other leaders when answering a specific question from the reporters. He said the police produced all the arrested Maoists before the magistrates concerned before they they were sent to judicial remand.

Considering the material on record and the submissions from both sides, the high court dismissed the petition by granting liberty to the petitioners to approach the court again if they find any evidence in support of their contentions.

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