Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Tuesday expressed anger at Lokesh Kumar, who was recently transferred out from his post as GHMC commissioner by the Election Commission, for not appearing before the court despite summons being issued against him. The court directed Kumar appear on Tuesday.
While dealing a contempt case filed against GHMC officials by K. Nandu Kumar , accused in the BRS MLAs poachgate case for demolishing unauthorised structures at the Hotel Deccan Kitchen at Banjara Hills, Justice Kanneganti Lalitha had on June 26 directed Lokesh Kumar, GHMC zonal commissioner Ravi Teja and another officer, Raj Kumar, to appear on July 11.
Nanda Kumar contended that the GHMC officials had deliberately demolished the structures at the premises without serving notice at the time of investigation into the poachgate case, though the court had specifically directed the GHMC to hear his contentions and gave two months time. Moreover, the demolition was done on a Sunday.
On Tuesday, Lokesh Kumar did not appear before the court and the two other GHMC officials were present. The court opined that the absence of Lokesh Kumar was disrespectful to the court. Enraged by his absence, Justice Lalitha asked the GHMC officials whether they do not even pay attention to the orders given by the Supreme Court, which had categorically said in several cases not to carry out any demolitions on Sunday.
The Judge expressed anger at Lokesh Kumar for violating the court orders and asked what was the urgent need to demolish the building on a Sunday. “Didn’t you know that there is an order of the Supreme Court not to carry out any demolitions during the holidays,” she said.
Justice Lalitha directed Lokesh Kumar to appear on July 13 and cautioned him that severe action would be taken against him, if so not appear on that day.
Meanwhile, court directed the GHMC officials Ravi Teja and Raj Kumar to furnish all the details related to demolition of Deccan Kitchen to the court, including when were the notices served on the premises for unauthorised construction and what was the explanation by the parties.
Besides that, Nanda Kumar has filed an interim application before the High Court against film actor Daggubati Venkatesh, Suresh Babu and Rana Naidu, owners of Deccan Kitchen premises. Nanda Kumar submitted that the Daggupati family had colluded with the GHMC, entered the premises on November 13 last, demolished the property and erected blue sheets and put up a board stating that the property belonged to Suresh Productions Group.
Nanda Kumar submitted that Suresh Babu had filed a suit for eviction and recovery of arrears, possession, injunction and damages against him, which was pending before the City Civil Cour. He submitted that pendency of eviction suit clearly showed that he was in the possession of property even though the Daggubati family members had illegally entered with the help of GHMC and got the structures demolished.
