Kin claim top Maoist duo in police custody, AP HC seeks proof

Vijayawada: Relatives of CPI (Maoist) general secretary Thippiri Tirupathi alias Devji and another top rebel, Malla Raji Reddy, filed Thursday a habeas corpus writ petition in Andhra Pradesh high court alleging the duo were "presently in the illegal and unconstitutional detention of (Andhra) police".

The police, however, denied that Devji and Raji Reddy were in their custody and informed the HC that several Maoists arrested from five AP districts on Nov 18 had already been produced before courts.


A bench of Justices Ch Manavendra Nath Roy and G Tuhin Kumar, hearing the pleas by Devji's brother Thippiri Gangadhar and Raji Reddy's daughter Snehalatha Malla, directed them to submit "prima facie evidence" in support of their claims, saying this was a must to intervene in these kinds of matters. It agreed to hear them again on Friday after their lawyers promised proof.

Gangadhar and Snehalatha had earlier pressed for an immediate hearing late Wednesday citing urgency but the HC decided to take up the plea the following day.

Their lawyers U Jai Bhima Rao and Gutta Rohith told the HC there was an exchange of fire between the police and the Maoists on Nov 18, and the ADGP announced that they neutralised some rebels, including top commander Madvi Hidma. The ADGP also mentioned they had arrested 50 Maoists, including some guards of Devji, the lawyers claimed and cited purported news reports that some top rebels were in custody.

"Do you have any evidence to suggest that they are in the custody of the police?" the HC asked the petitioners' lawyers after special govt pleader T Vishnu Teja said the cops had not detained Devji or Raji Reddy.

Bhima Rao cited purported police press statements saying the guards of Devji had been arrested. He said the circumstances and police statements indicate Devji and Raji Reddy had also been detained as their guards would not leave them. Rao vowed to produce videos of the police statements, prompting the HC to consider his request and post the matter for further hearing on Friday.



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