HC rejects resignation of NIA judge in Masjid case

The High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Thursday rejected the resignation of Judge K Ravinder Reddy who pronounced the verdict in the May 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case.

Judge Reddy was heading the Special Court dealing with National Investigation Agency (NIA) cases in Hyderabad.

The judge tendered his resignation within hours after delivering the verdict in the blast case on Monday. He also sought 15-day leave, pending acceptance of his resignation. The high court also rejected his application for leave.

The reasons for the high court’s decision is not immediately known. Sources say that the high court felt that the resignation could not be accepted as a petition seeking probe into the allegations of corruption against him was still being inquired into.

There are reports that the judge is facing charges of corruption in granting anticipatory bail, out of turn, to a realtor from Kadapa in a forgery case last year.

Judge Reddy was back on duty on Thursday. The high court asked him to resume his charge as the fourth metropolitan sessions court judge immediately.

The judge is learnt to have cited “personal reasons” for his resignation, but some of his colleagues have been saying that he was under tremendous pressure before delivering the judgement acquitting Swamy Aseemanand and four others in the blast case.

Judge Reddy is also the president of Telangana Judicial Officers Association and is retiring by June end.

There are also reports that he may have resigned in view of the dwindling chances of promotion as the courts are yet to be divided between the newly carved states of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana.