AP Politicians in criminal cases

By M H Ahssan

8 Criminal Cases Filed Against City MLAs In Present Term, But Only 2 Reach Trial Stage

Police slapped cases against seven city legislators for indulging in violent and criminal incidents during the term of the present Assembly. In all, eight criminal cases were registered against the MLAs. Not surprisingly, charge sheets have been filed only in three cases, while only two of them reached trial stage.

Cases were registered against the MLAs for participating in protests in the Old City against a Danish cartoonist’s caricature of the Prophet in February 2006, communal clashes at Madannapet in April 2007, attack on Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen at Press Club in August 2007, attack on medicos of Niloufer hospital in December 2007, attack on CPI (M) MP, Madhu by Congress party workers in Chikkadpally in May 2008, firing into the air by Karwan MLA when GHMC officials demolished an illegal construction in Abids area in July 2008.

Apart from Karwan MLA Afsar Khan, cases were also registered against Chandrayangutta MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, Asif Nagar MLA Mouzam Khan, Yakutpura MLA Mumtaz Khan, Charminar MLA Syed Ahmed Pasha Quadri, Himayatnagar MLA G Kishan Reddy and Maharajgunj MLA M Mukesh Goud.

In rioting incidents during the protest against cartoons of the Prophet by a Danish newspaper on February 17, 2006, several cases, including rioting, unlawful assembly, damage to property cases were registered against Chandrayangutta MLA Akbaruddin Owaisi, Charminar MLA Pasha Quadri and Hyderabad MP Asaduddin Owaisi.

Nearly two years after registration of the case, trial has begun recently. According to DCP (South Zone wing) Atul Singh, the public representatives had appeared before court in the case once and trial began recently.

Rioting, house trespass, voluntarily causing hurt and damage to property cases were registered against Afsar Khan, Mouzam Khan, Quadri and Akbaruddin Owaisi for attacking Bangladeshi writer Taslima Nasreen at Press Club in August 2007.

According to Punjagutta inspector of police M Malla Reddy, a charge sheet was filed in January 2008 and recently summons have been served on the legislators and other accused to appear before court.

However, a charge sheet is yet to be filed in the criminal intimidation case registered against Akbaruddin Owaisi for allegedly threatening Taslima.

The state government has transferred the case on attack on junior doctors of Niloufer by Afsar Khan and others to CID. According to IG (CID-GOW) M Punna Rao, the charge sheet has been filed and trial has commenced.

The sensational case of Afsar Khan firing in the air during a tiff with the GHMC officials at Abids has reached a dead end. According to DCP Central Zone P Hari Kumar, GHMC officials had withdrawn their complaint against the MLA.

“GHMC officials have withdrawn their complaint. The MLA has also surrendered his weapon. The APFSL report confirmed that the bullets were fired from his weapon. The MLA said he fired in self defence,” Hari Kumar said. So, the case has been put in cold storage.

During bypoll in the Musheerabad Assembly constituency, Congress and CPI (M) activists lodged complaints against each other after an alleged attack on CPI (M) MP P Madhu.

Cases were registered against Madhu and BC welfare minister Mukesh Goud, but the case has been closed with both parties withdrawing their complaints. “Both the complainants withdrew their respective complaints and the case is closed,” Chikkadpally inspector of police D Vasanth Rao said.

The Narayanguda police registered an assault case under section 323 of the IPC against Himayatnagar MLA G Kishan Reddy for allegedly manhandling a car driver, Yella Reddy, at Old MLA Quarters in Hyderguda on February 27, 2008.

Cases were also registered against Yakutpura MLA Mumtaz Khan and Charminar MLA Pasha Quadri in April 2007 for allegedly inciting a mob which led to stone pelting in Madannapet.

But these cases were closed due to ‘lack of evidence’.