Kadapa commissioner gets one-month imprisonment

ANANTAPUR: The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday sentenced the then Kadapa municipal commissioner K. Lavanna to undergo one-month imprisonment and pay a fine of Rs 15,000 for demolition of a building in violation of its orders.

Padmavati Bai, the 80-year-old owner of the building in Kadapa town, had approached the High Court a few months ago saying the municipal corporation authorities are trying to demolish her house to clear the approach road to the building of a YSRC leader. The High Court stayed the demolition.

However, civic authorities ignored the stay orders and demolished the woman’s house. Following this, Padmavati Bai again approached the High Court in March against the Kadapa Municipal Corporation authorities for contempt of court by ignoring the stay orders issued by it.

The High Court directed the Kadapa municipal commissioner to appear before it. But Lavanna failed to do so.

On Friday, the High Court bench comprising Justice Sathi Reddy pronounced its verdict and sentenced the then municipal commissioner to undergo one-month imprisonment and also pay a penalty of Rs 15,000.

Senior defence counsel Jada Shravan Kumar filed the contempt of court petition.