HC worried about honour killings

A division bench comprising Justice C.V. Nagarjuna Reddy and Justice J. Uma Devi, while hearing the petition by Naresh’s father Amboji Venkataiah, expressed serious concern at the growing instances of honour killings in AP and TS.

Expressing displeasure at the investigation into the case, the bench advised the police to pursue the case transparently and strictly in accordance with the law.

AP public prosecutor Posani Venkateswarlu, who was in the court hall, said the culture of honour killing, which was prevailing in the north, was slowly penetrating into the south. Reacting to this, the bench sought to know what the governments were doing to prevent its occurrence.

Mr Venkateswarlu had moved the court stating that his son had married Swathi of Yadadri, Bhongir district, against the will of her father T. Srinivas Reddy in Mumbai on March 25. Thereafter, Naresh and Swathi returned to the village on May 2, and since then his son had gone missing.

When the habeas corpus petition came up for hearing earlier, the court ordered the police to produce Swathi before it on May 18. Swathi allegedly committed suicide before the court hearing.

On May 18, the High Court ordered the police to produce Naresh.

Mr S. Sharath Kumar, special counsel for the TS government, on Thursday placed a report by the LB Nagar DCP which stated that Srinivas Reddy had given a confessional statement, admitting to killing Naresh and doing away with the body. His relative Nalla Sathi Reddy confessed to helping Srinivas Reddy murder Naresh.

Mr Sharath Kumar told the court that an application has been moved before the Bhongir junior first class magistrate for altering the section from ‘man missing’ to a case of murder and that the magistrate had allowed the application.

He urged the court to dismiss the petition as it would not be possible to produce a dead man before the court.

Mr N.S. Arjun Kumar, counsel for the petitioner, urged the court to keep the petition pending till there was progress in the investigation and some material evidence relating to the body of Naresh was found.

He said that it was due to the intervention of the court that the police had speeded up its investigation. Counsel also expressed doubts about the suicide of Swathi just hours after the hearing.

Mr Arjun Kumar alleged that the police brought the couple from Mumbai in connivance with the father of the girl.

Refuting the allegation, Mr Sharath Kumar said that the police asked the couple to visit the police station as Srinivas Reddy had lodged a dowry harassment complaint against Naresh and his family.

When the bench asked him about the video that was recorded by Swathi prior to her alleged suicide, he replied that it was sent for forensic examination.

Mr Sharath Kumar said that a police officer has been suspended and charge memos issued to two others in the case; and that the investigation was in a crucial stage.

The bench said since Naresh has been murdered, the habeas corpus petition was no longer maintainable. The bench made it clear that the petitioner can avail all legal remedies open to him in case of any grievance regarding the ongoing investigation.

The culture of honour killing, which was prevailing in the north, was slowly penetrating into the south — POSANI VENKATESWARLU, AP Public prosecutor

An application has been moved for altering the section from ‘man missing’ to a case of murder

— S. SHARATH KUMAR, Special Counsel, TS