AP govt orders withdrawal of cases against Jaganmohan

Overruling the Director-General of Police’s (DGP) recommendations, the Andhra Pradesh government on Tuesday issued orders withdrawing criminal cases against Kadapa MP and YSR Congress president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy and 30 others at the Pulivendula police station.

“After careful examination of the matter, the government decided to direct the collector and district magistrate, to instruct the assistant public prosecutor to initiate immediate action in accordance with the law for withdrawal of prosecution under Section 321 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973, and guidelines issued in government order No 54 of Law (LA&J - Home Courts -B) Department, dated March 30, 2000, against the accused,” Law Secretary R Damodar said in the orders.

The state government took a policy decision last year to withdraw all criminal cases filed against those who agitated for and against bifurcation of AP since December, 2009. Accordingly, these cases are being withdrawn in a phased manner in Telangana and Andhra-Rayalaseema regions. Jagan is accused number 30 in three cases filed at Pulivendula (Urban) police station against him and 30 others under various sections of the Indian Penal Code, Prevention of Damage to Public Property Act, 1984, and the Criminal Law Amendment Act, 1932. These cases related to agitating for a unified AP where government property at BSNL, irrigation and revenue offices were allegedly damaged, were pending trial before the Assistant Sessions Judge’s court in Kadapa.