File counter petition: HC in Mallanna case

Justice K. Lakshman of Telangana High Court on Friday directed Telangana police and state home department to file a counter-affidavit in the writ petition filed by the wife of Q- News YouTube channel founder Chinthapandu Naveen Kumar @ Teenmar Mallanna, who urged the court to enlarge her husband on bail.

T. Pardyamna Kumar Reddy, senior counsel appearing for Mallanna’s wife, informed the court that though Crime No.

197/2021 was registered against the accused on April 21 under Section 387, 204 of IPC, the police meticulously added Section 306 r/w. 511 IPC, four months after the crime was registered.

Further, he submitted that Mallanna had appeared before the investigation officer in Chilkalguda police station adhering to 41 Cr. PC Notice on August

3 but failed to attend the next one two days later as he had tested positive for Covid-19.

It was informed to the investigating officer well within time. The addition of Section 306 r/w.

511 IPC was without any basis and concrete evidence, added the counsel.

Subsequently, 14 more cases were registered against Mallanna T. PARDYAMNA Kumar Reddy, senior counsel appearing for Mallanna’s wife, informed the court that though Crime No. 197/2021 was registered against the accused on April 21 under Section 387, 204 of IPC, the police meticulously added Section 306 r/w. 511 IPC, four months after the crime was registered.

FURTHER, HE submitted that Mallanna had appeared before the investigation officer in Chilkalguda police station adhering to 41 Cr. PC Notice on August 3 but failed to attend the next one two days later as he had tested positive for Covid-19.

intending to have a PT warrant issued, the counsel explained.

However, the court did not issue any interim order as it was informed that Mallanna’s bail application was listed for hearing before a lower court.

He adjourned the writ petition to September 14, directing police and the home department to submit their contentions on the petition.