Lawyers murder case: Cong. seeks CBI probe
Total collapse of law and order in state, says Uttam
Lead by N. Uttam Kumar Reddy, president of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC), a delegation of the state Congress met Governor Dr Tamilisai Soundarar-ajan at Raj Bhavan here on Friday and requested her to direct a court-monitored Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the murder of the lawyer couple Gattu Vaman Rao and P.V. 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. The 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 the 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.
The TPCC chief 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 state.
“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, 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 Telangana Rashtra Samiti (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, the 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 singleline statement condemning the brutal double murders. This clearly shows that 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,” Reddy said.
The TPCC chief said the Congress would also write to the Chief Justice of India, president of the 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. Mahendar Reddy and requested him to expedite the investigation into the double murder case.
They also requested the DGP to take necessary steps to ensure protection of the family of the victims.