CBI files charges in derogatory remarks against judges case

THE AGENCY HAS NAMED 1 PERSON, LINGAREDDY RAJASEKHAR, ARRESTED ON JULY 9

NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) on Thursday filed a charge sheet in its probe into alleged derogatory posts on social media against judges and judiciary in Andhra Pradesh, naming one person Lingareddy Rajasekhar, who was arrested on July 9 on his arrival from Kuwait, people familiar with the matter said.

The agency had taken over the probe in the matter in November last year against 16 accused on the orders of Andhra Pradesh high court.

It was alleged that the key personnel occupying posts of prominence in the State of Andhra Pradesh by intentionally targetIt ing the Judiciary, made derogatory posts on social media platform against Judges and Judiciary following some Court verdicts delivered by the Judges of Hon’ble High Court of Andhra Pradesh.

CBI spokesperson R C Joshi said that after taking over the probe, CBI had got objectionable posts removed from the social media, public domains and a lot of such posts/accounts were removed from internet.

was only after Chief Justice of India N V Ramana lamented the CBI last month saying it doesn’t help the judiciary, that it initiated action in the case.

“During the course of investigation, the said accused was arrested on July 9, 2021 at Cuddaph (Andhra Pradesh) and presently he is in judicial custody. Searches were also conducted at the residential premises of the accused at Cuddapah which led to recovery of incriminating documents,” Joshi added.

After registration of the case, the CBI traced 13 of the 16 accused named in the FIR on various digital platforms, said an officer. Two accused are said to be based in the US while another person is also abroad somewhere.