Criminal Cases Against SKC Members

The Nampally Criminal Courts on Friday directed the Punjagutta police to book criminal cases against the Justice Srikrishna Committee members under IPC sections 153A, 418, 504 and 505.

The court of the 14th Additional Metropolitan Magistrate had issued these directions following a writ petition filed by Telangana People's Forum General Secretary Mohd Vali-ur-Rahman.

While ordering the registration of a criminal case, the court said that the panel members had not followed certain rules and regulations while drafting the report, and had submitted a report full of factual errors. The report is misleading, and is likely to misguide the Centre, the court further said.

In his petition, Rahman had pointed out to the court that the 8th chapter of the Justice Srikrishna Committee Report was against democratic principles, and also that it violated the Constitution of India.

The Centre has not yet made public the 8th chapter of the report, which is also referred to as the "secret note", and has termed it as a privileged document under Sections 123 and 124 of the Indian Evidence Act 1872.

Earlier, on March 23rd, the High Court had ordered the Centre to make public the contents of the 8th chapter.

Taking serious objection to the 8th chapter, Rahman pointed out to the Court that its contents were hurtful, and were an insult to the sentiments and aspirations of the people of the Telangana region.

Stating that the panel members have sought to quell the Telangana agitation through their report, he appealed to the court to direct the police to book criminal cases against the Srikrishna Committee members for creating regional differences between the people of the Seemandhra and Telangana regions.

Rahman also pointed out to the court that the panel's controversial report might fuel the differences between the Hindu and Muslim populations, too.

Taking up Rahman's petition for further hearing, the court has directed the police to investigate the case and submit a status report.

Earlier, Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) leader Ravinder Singh from the Karimnagar district had lodged a complaint in a local police station in Karimnagar against the Srikrishna Committee members, taking a serious note over the contents of 8th chapter of their report. (INN)