Hyderabad: Reacting to the brutal killing of the advocate couple, Gattu Vaman Rao and P.V. Nagamani, as ‘grave and a most unfortunate incident’, the Telangana High Court on Thursday took up a suo moto case.
The court issued notices to principal secretary, Telangana State Home, the Director-General of Police, the Ramagundam Police Commissioner and other police authorities concerned, right down from top officials to the station house officer (SHO) of Ramagiri police station, in which jurisdiction the double murder took place.
Police authorities were directed by to submit a status report of investigation, with all information, before the High Court on March 1. The court further directed the police to collect each and every piece of evidence thoroughly and to preserve them.
Characterising the incident as “blatancy in Telangana”, and terming it “unforgivable”, Chief Justice Hima Kohli “cautioned police authorities” and the “state government” to take stern action immediately.
“If faith in the rule of law is shaken, then there is much that needs to be done to repose faith in the administration. So, immediately start action to ensure no violator of law is spared. Do it in a time bound manner. The credibility of the state rests on how effectively you act. No one should forget that we are all governed by rule of law,” Chief Justice Kohli said.
Condemning the murder, the HC Bench observed that lawyers, who work to help others from unruly activities and raise voice against the unlawful, are themselves being targeted by the uncivilized. It was unfortunate what happened to them.
Further, the court directed that the incident should be investigated adequately and properly. All material evidence should be preserved properly. Forensic evidence must be collected scientifically and a cogent and cohesive status report on the gruesome issue should be filed, the Advocate-General, representing the state government, was instructed.
CJ Kohli stressed that video clippings of the murder, which were circulating on social media, must be authenticated forensically, and if found not to have been tampered and original, they should be preserved as “crucial evidence” against the culprits.
The CJ also told the police to scientifically examine and preserve video clips of the voice of advocate Vaman Rao, after he was stabbed and other statements made before he died.
Justice Bollam Vijasen Reddy asked the Advocate General of Telangana to make attempts to take passengers, who were traveling in two RTC buses, which were there at the place of the incident, as eyewitnesses.
“Passengers watched the attack and recorded videos. Police can try to take them as witnesses by tracing the passengers. Culprits should be punished”, Justice Reddy said.
Advocate General BS Prasad, after taking notes of the series of directions issued, assured the Court that the police would thoroughly conduct an investigation and ensure perpetrators are brought to book.
