Maha court issues non-bailable warrant against Naidu

A local court in Maharashtra issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 14 others in connection with a 2010 case on an agitation against Bhabali (Babli) barrage on Godavari river in that state.

The news reached Naidu while he offering the traditional “Silk Robes” to Lord Venkateswara at the Tirumala temple on the occasion of Brahmotsavams.

The Judicial First Class Magistrate, Dharmabad of Nanded district in Maharashtra NR Ghajbiye posted the case to 21 September. The magistrate ordered the police to arrest the TDP leaders including Naidu and present them before him on that date, agency reports said.

The incident occurred eight years ago when Naidu was opposition leader in the Assembly of combined Andhra Pradesh. Naidu, along with forty of his party MLAs, arrived at the project site and wanted to see the Babli barrage allegedly built with an intention to divert Godavari water from Telangana. Tension prevailed as Maharashtra police guarding the barrage resorted to lathi charge and arrested all the leaders including Naidu. They were then kept in a local ITI college.

As Naidu refused to ask for a bail he was then airlifted to Hyderabad by the Maharashtra administration. The police then booked them under several relevant cases against Naidu and 14 others for obstructing public servants from delivering their duty, Criminal intimidation, endangering life and for violating Section 144. The Court order came after a petitioner wanted to know why an earlier warrant issued eight months was not implemented.

Reacting to the court order, Naidu’s son, state IT minister Nara Lokesh said that his father will attend the court even as a legal opinion has been sought on the issue. “My father, along with other leaders, have fought for the rightful share of Godavari water for northern Telangana, but for their resistance, the area would have turned into a dry land,” he said. Several TDP MLAs have alleged that the BJP government centre has instigated the Maharashtra government to initiate action on Naidu after almost eight years as a part of political vendetta.

Besides Chief Minister Naidu, state irrigation minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, social welfare minister N Anandbabu and Gangula Kamalakar who is now in TRS were among the others booked in the case.