Tahsildar challenges Disha encounter probe panel's report

Hyderabad: Jaruplavath Pandu, tahsildhar of Farooqnagar mandal in Ranga Reddy district when the alleged police encounter of four accused in the Disha rape and murder case took place, filed a petition before the Telangana High Court questioning the adverse remarks and findings recorded by the Supreme Court-appointed fact-finding commission, headed by Justice V.S. Sirpurakar.

The commission in its report suggested that Pandu as the then tahsildar and executive magistrate of Farooqnagar was liable to face departmental inquiry for making procedural improprieties in ordering the judicial remand of the four, Jollu Shiva, Naveen, Chinthakunta Chennakeshavulu and Mohammad Arif.

The aggrieved tahsildar complained that some of the observations and findings by the commission were adversely affecting his reputation. He urged the court to strike out the findings in the commission’s report.

The commission had mentioned in its report that the tahsildar had stated he was unfamiliar with remand proceedings and as it was the first time in his career. Hence, he could not ask the nature of proceedings to be followed and believed the court staff would not mislead him. Further, he had said that the police neither told him the arrest nor did he attempt to inquire with police or the accused about the time and manner of his arrest.

The petition came for hearing on Friday before the division bench comprising Chief Justice Ujjal Bhuyan and Justice N. Tukaramji. However, on the request of Pandu’s counsel, the court adjourned the case to April 11.