HC Issues Bailable Warrants Against Retired Additional DCP

Hyderabad:The Telangana High Court issued bailable warrants against retired additional DCP Suhas Chaturvedi for his disregard to the court by not responding and keeping quiet for 12 years in the criminal contempt case filed against him on charges that he gave a false oath before the court. The court also directed Chaturvedi to pay Rs 10,000 personal bond for release on bail.

The division bench, comprising Chief Justice Alok Aradhe and Justice J. Sreenivas Rao, was dealing with a suo motu criminal contempt case ordered by the High Court in 2012 against Chaturvedi, B. Anjaiah, then CI of Chilkalguda police, police official K. Venugopal and home guards.

They were involved in forcible eviction of a woman from her rented house at Flat No. 402, Saraswathi Residency, Padmaraonagar, Secunderabad, by throwing her belongings on the pavement in 2011. Moreover, they tried to rescue the house owner from allegations of rape.

When the court asked for a report, Anjaiah submitted that the lady had on her own vacated the house. These statements were given by Chaturvedi, the then ACP of Gopalapuram and others.

Finding out that all were false statements, the High Court in 2012 issued criminal contempt proceedings against Chaturvedi, and Venugopal (the previous investigating officer) and imposed exemplary costs of Rs 5,000 on each. Further, the High court had also ordered CBCID inquiry into the issue and had directed the then chief secretary to initiate disciplinary proceedings against the said police officers.

The criminal case has been pending since 2012. After several hearings, the case was listed on Thursday for final hearing. Counsels for the police officers were unable to tell the court about the status of the CBCID probe and that the affidavit or representation was made by Chaturvedi. Taking it as a serious issue, the court issued warrants and directed him to appear on October 15.