HC declines to grant interim protection to YSRCP leaders

Vijayawada: The high court declined to grant interim protection from arrest to YSRCP general secretary Pudi Srihari and party worker G Girish Kumar Reddy in the case registered over objectionable postings made with morphed images of chief minister N Chandrababu Naidu. After the trial court in Kuppam rejected sending Srihari and Reddy to judicial remand, police moved the high court challenging the same. The high court, which earlier suspended the trial court's order, had issued notices to the accused to file their response. Arguing on their behalf, senior counsel Ponnavolu Sudhakar Reddy sought interim protection from arrest pending disposal of the petition. However, Justice Y Lakshmana Rao said there is no material to show that police will arrest the accused and therefore, there is no need for any directions in the matter. Sudhakar Reddy further argued that the trial court order was suspended without giving them an audience. Justice Rao said they waited for him on that day, and orders were passed as no one appeared. Clarifying that the trial court order was only suspended and not set aside, the high court said the matter will be taken up for final hearing on April 29.