Brief HC Respite for BRS Leader Shakeel

 Hyderabad: In a temporary relief to former Bodhan MLA Shakeel Aamir Mohammed, the Telangana High Court directed the Nizamabad police superintendent and the police of Varni and Kotagiri follow the due procedure in the probe against the BRS leader regarding alleged misappropriation of government- supplied paddy for custom milling rice (CMR).

Civil supplies, revenue and police officials had conducted inspections on the three rice mills in Nizamabad district in December. The rice mills located in the limits of Varni and Kotagiri police stations, are reportedly owned by associates and family members of Shakeel Aamir.

The civil supplies authorities learnt that approximately Rs 70 crore worth custom milling rice belonging to the state government in the said rice mills have gone missing.

According to official sources, 50,732 metric tonnes of paddy was allocated to mills owned by the former MLA’s kin during vanakalam and yasangi seasons.

Of this, 33,328 metric tonnes of paddy remained unaccounted and has reportedly been misappropriated.

Based on a complaint by the civil supplies department, police registered three separate cases and initiated a probe.

Complaining that the police were harassing him and his family members in the name of investigation, Shakeel through his GPA holder approached the High Court.

K. Venu Madhav, representing Shakeel, argued that his client was not directly involved in the business activities of the rice mills and police have registered the FIR against Shakeel and summoned him to come to the police station.

Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of the Telangana High Court directed the police to follow the due procedure by issuing notices under 41-A CrPC, which are mandatory for the offences that are punishable with seven years jail.