Murder Of Lawyer-Couple : Advocate Files Letter Petition Before Telangana HC Chief Justice For CBI Inquiry

A letter petition has been filed before the Chief Justice of the Telangana High Court seeking CBI enquiry into the alleged murder of a Lawyer couple in the state. The representation made by Advocate Khaja Aijazuddin states that the deceased couple was hacked to death as it was engaged in adherence of Rule of Law by filing public interest litigations and was involved in securing justice for the oppressed. The letter further states that the couple was killed despite directions passed by the High Court extending police protection, thus indicating that the concerned Police department intentionally and deliberately failed to oversee the security cover for the lawyer couple. The vehicle of Advocates Gattu Vaman Rao and his wife PV Nagamani was intercepted on Wednesday afternoon while they were returning to Hyderabad after attending a court case in Manthani. They were stabbed multiple times, at the middle of the road, in broad daylight, by some unidentified men. The couple was rushed to a nearby hospital where they succumbed to the injuries this afternoon. The letter written to the Chief Justice in this context states, "Advocates Mr. Gattu Vaman Rao and Mrs. PV. Nagamani who are the Practising advocates of Telangana High Court and its Subordinates courts who are more focussed in filing PlLs (Public lnterest Liligations) were murdered today in broad daylight at about 03:00PM at Peddapalli District, (Ramagundam Police Commissionerate) Telangana State, while they were returning from attending the Court work to Hyderabad City. The assailants armed with Knives and Swords stopped the Car of the victims and in the middle of the road as the passersby and four wheelers / motorists witnessed the incidents ,the lawyer couple were brutally murdered on the main road and later on at hospital they both succumbed. The Lawyer couple brought to the notice of Lock up death which took place at Ramagundam Police Commissionerate Police Station somewhere in June'2019 and sought intervention of Hon'ble High Court, the Hon'ble High Court Division Bench No. I passed some orders directing the State DGP Police to provide protection to the lawyer couple. lt appears from the incident which took place today some Ruling Party leaders are behind the murder, so also the Telangana Police remained mute spectator or they were well known about this incident as the past events of the lawyer couple the Police shall be having intelllgence reports to provide the lawyer couple with Security." Background The couple had had filed a PIL against alleged custodial death of one Seelam Rangaiah in Manthani. They had alleged that Rangaiah was brought to the Manthani Police Station and was kept under lock-up for four days. During this period, he was allegedly subjected to custodial torture. Subsequently, unable to bear the police atrocities, it was claimed that Mr. Rangaiah died in the lock-up under suspicious circumstances on 26.05.2020 at 4:00 a.m. Advocate Nagamani prayed before the Court to issue directions for registration of an FIR and also conduct a judicial enquiry into the death of Sheelam Rangaiah. In September 2020, the couple had moved an application before the Court, alleging that they are being threatened by the Police Department. Advocate Nagamani had alleged that her husband was falsely implicated in a FIR and she was threatened over phone that by getting involved in this case, she is not only risking her life but also the lives of her children and other family members. Following these submissions, a Division Bench had directed the Director General of Police, Telangana State, to ensure that the couple is not harassed. Last week, the High Court passed an order extending the protection granted to them.

Murder Of Lawyer-Couple : Advocate Files Letter Petition Before Telangana HC Chief Justice For CBI Inquiry

Akshita Saxena

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