AP high court to monitor Mahbubnagar murder case

HYDERABAD: Mahbubnagar SP D Nagendra Kumar on Friday informed the AP High Court that the investigation into the brutal murder of Manik Reddy of Rajoli area in the district was taken away from the Rajoli CI and handed over to the DSP concerned. The SP who was summoned by the court, was present on Friday when Justice Ramesh Ranganathan took up hearing in the case filed by Magatha Saraswathamma, wife of the deceased, who charged eight persons with murder and the local police with inaction and connivance.

Ratangapani Reddy, the counsel for the petitioner, told the court that the deceased was hacked to death by eight persons. But one A Raja Reddy, a mentally unsound person, was named as the main culprit while the real murderers were being shielded, the counsel said. "We have apprehensions about the role being played by the local circle inspector," he added. The counsel also expressed concern over the safety of the petitioner in view of threats being held out to Saraswathamma by the eight men. Government pleader for home department Janakirami Reddy told the court that the police so far had examined all the accused and 9 witnesses in the case. The SP told the court that Raja Reddy bore some grudge against the deceased because of various reasons that included sexual jealousy and local politics.

The petitioner's counsel refuted this line of argument and said that the deceased was struck by paralysis a year ago. The judge made it clear that he would monitor the case and directed the SP to ensure safety to Saraswathamma. The SP was also directed to file a status report in the case from time to time.