CBI arrests five over ‘derogatory’ remarks against judges and judiciary in AP

VIJAYAWADA: CBI has arrested two more persons as part of the investigations into a case in which a group of people had made derogatory posts on social media against judges in Andhra Pradesh and the judiciary. With this, the number of arrests in the case went up to five. The CBI had registered a case against 16 persons in this connection.

 In a press release here on Sunday, CBI said it arrested Pattapu Aadarsh and Lavanuru Samba Siva Reddy on August 7. On July 28, it arrested Dhami Reddy Konda Reddy. It put them in judicial custody. Another accused, Pamula Sudheer, is currently in police custody. CBI had previously arrested Lingareddy Rajasekhar Reddy, who was then sent to judicial custody on July 9. He had in the past worked in Kuwait.

The CBI release said it had registered a case on November 11 last against 16 accused and taken over the investigation into 12 FIRs from the state CID in pursuance of the orders of the high court of Andhra Pradesh in response to a writ petition of 2020.

The original FIRs were registered on complaints from the Registrar General of the high court of Andhra Pradesh. The case was registered under sections of the IT Act, 2000.

 It was alleged that the accused, by intentionally targeting the judiciary, made derogatory posts on social media platforms against judges and the judiciary, following some verdicts from the AP high court.

After registration of the case, CBI traced 13 of the 16 men named in the FIR. Three of them were found to be living abroad. CBI so far examined 11 out of the 13 accused and arrested five of them.

Evidence against the remaining six accused is being evaluated for necessary legal action. CBI is pursuing the matter to secure the return of the two other accused living abroad, for their examination.

Searches were conducted by CBI at the premises of the accused which led to the recovery of several incriminating documents. It was found that one accused was using a passport with a different name.

CBI has also examined certain persons including an MP and ex-MLA to examine the suspected role of some others who were not mentioned in the FIR.

Alongside, action was initiated by CBI to get objectionable posts removed from the social media platforms and public domains and a lot of such posts/accounts were removed from the internet.

CBI stated that the investigation is continuing including through the channels of Mutual Legal Assistance Treaty (MLAT) and Interpol to collect evidence from abroad in relation to this case.