Hyderabad: A landowner has initiated contempt proceedings (CC No. 995 of 2024) against the Special Intelligence Bureau IG Badugula Sumathi and Medipally station house officer R. Govinda Reddy, alleging that they were threatening him even after the High Court had passed interim orders (WP 4676) restraining them from interfering in civil disputes pending adjudication.
Sumathi along with Govinda Reddy has allegedly threatened the victim Chandrabhushan Chettu.
Chettu informed the court that he had been getting threatening calls from the two asking him to vacate his property failing which they would implicate his family members in false cases.
Chettu’s counsel has filed a contempt of court petition against Sumathi and Govinda Reddy for having ignored the High Court orders.
Chettu, 42, who said he owns a 236-square yard plot in Boduppal municipal limits, claimed that at around 7.50 am on February 4, Sumathi called him from her mobile number and introduced herself. He also got a call from Govinda Reddy, who told him to vacate the property or else he and his family members would be framed.
The writ petition, dated April 4, mentions one Sai Prabhath Reddy Murukuti, 43, a realtor, as respondent.
Justice C.V. Bhaskar Reddy had earlier issued a showcause notice to Govinda Reddy and Sumathi.
When contacted, Govinda Reddy alleged that Chettu was misusing his name as he had never called or threatened him. He asked Chettu to come up with evidence.
Senior advocate G. Raghunath said, “While it is for the courts to decide civil disputes, police take undue advantage of the loopholes and misuse their official position to settle issues in favour of one party to the dispute in return for bribes or under influence of seniors.”
There have been over 100 instances of top police officials threatening innocent people as evidenced by the phone-tapping scam, former APP of the High Court Arun Kumar Rao told Deccan Chronicle. Senior IPS officers are apparently getting embroiled in controversies related to land disputes, Arun said.
Keeping this in view, some senior IPS officers like M. Mahender Reddy and C.V. Anand formulated standard operating procedures (SOPs) to be followed by police personnel while dealing with property or land disputes. They came up with circulars about the dos and don’ts for SOPs. Ironically, many SIs and constables are not even aware of the SOPs. In fact, they try to settle land disputes, in return for gifts, bribes or under the influence of some higher-ups and politicians, a senior High Court advocate said.
