Andhra top cop on the run

HYDERABAD: High drama continued for the second day on Friday in the spat between two senior IPS officers with four city police teams unable to trace director general Umesh Kumar, against whom a non-bailable warrant (NBW) has been issued by a Nampally court in a forgery case in which he is one of the accused. Umesh is currently the chairman of the Godavari Valley Development Authority (GVDA) and is engaged in a legal case involving his batch mate and DGP V Dinesh Reddy.
The NBW was issued on Thursday, but a CID team that went to Umesh's residence in Jubilee Hills that evening could not find him. His gunmen and security personnel said he had left the residence in his official vehicle around 4.30pm and subsequently abandoned his car and got into an auto. However, Umesh continued to remain untraceable even on Friday despite the city police pressing into service four teams, three of the CID and one of the Task Force. Police personnel in plainclothes were also posted outside the Nampally court to track Umesh in case he turned up there, but were unsuccessful.
According to sources, the signal from Umesh's cell phone was last traced to his residence before it was switched off. 'Obviously, he is somewhere in the city and using some other mobile phone, but we are not able to trace him," said CID officials. Apparently, the city police is caught between the spat between two top police officers in the state.
On Friday, the police teams visited the residences of some of the relatives of Umesh, but made no headway. Cops are also trying to trace the auto in which Umesh was last known to have travelled. The officer's gunmen and driver are said to have given contradictory statements to the CID sleuths, thus increasing their suspicion that they are not cooperating. Umesh's son Karthikeya was briefed by the CID officials about the pending NBW issued by the Nampally court against his father. After failing in all their efforts, CID officials suspect that Umesh is in the city somewhere safe and secure and that it might not be possible to apprehend him unless he voluntarily surrenders.
Umesh knocks on high court door
Senior police officer Umesh Kumar on Friday moved the high court seeking cancellation of the non bailable warrant issued against him by the chief metropolitan magistrate in the forgery case pending against him and former SEZ consultant Sunil Reddy. The petitioner not only sought cancellation of the order but also complained about the 'prejudicial' manner in which the matter was being dealt with by the court. He said his application for dispensing with his appearance in court, except when necessary, was rejected improperly.