HC gives last chance to TS govt to file counter affidavit in Raja Singh arrest case

Hyderabad: A division bench of the Telangana High Court has given a last chance to the state government to file a counter affidavit in the writ petition filed by BJP Goshamala MLA T. Raja Singh's wife, challenging his arrest under PD Act.

The division bench of Justice Abhishek Reddy and Justice G. Sridevi, hearing the Habeas Corpus petition filed by T.Usha Rani, wife of Raja Singh, challenging the proceedings issued against her husband under the PD Act, has made it clear that if the government does not file the counter-affidavit soon, the orders will be passed.

Usha Rani, through her counsel former MLC and advocate Ramchander Rao, contended in the petition that there is no valid ground or reason for invoking the PD Act against her husband, and she objected to police charging Raja Singh as a "goonda" under the provisions of the Telangana Prevention of bootleggers, dacoits, drug offenders, immoral trafficking offenders, and Land Grabbers Act, despite the fact that he was not involved in any such offences or cases registered.

Mujeeb Kumar Sadasivuni, special government pleader, informed the court that a 1,650-page counter-affidavit had been sent to the government for signatures and requested time until next Friday. He also informed the court that Raja Singh was involved in up to 100 cases, with him being the main accused in 16 of them.

According to Section 3(2) of the PD Act, the government has three months after the advisory board's opinion on whether the detainee should be kept behind bars or not, according to the counsel. The court adjourned the petition to October 28, directing the State to file its response.