Based on the directions of the Supreme Court, the Hyderabad CBI today registered cases against police officials who were involved in the reported encounter of the Maoist leader Azad and journalist Hema Chandra Pandey.

 

CBI DIG of Hyderabad told journalists that the cases were filed under sections 120 B and 320 of the IPC as per the directions of the Supreme Court.
The cases were booked against the then in charge CI of Asifabad Mr Raghunandan (now CI of Mandamarri), Tandur SI Mr Ravinder, Bellampalli ARSI Mr Mohan and some constables of the AR special party and civil special party.

 

It may be mentioned that police had encountered Azad and Hema Chandra Pandey in the Sarkepally forest area of Wankidi Mandalam in Adilabad district in the first week of July 2010.

 

The reported encounter took place when the social activist Swamy Agnivesh was about to deliver the Union Home Minister P. Chidambaram’s letter to the Maoist leader Azad on the proposed talks between Maoists and Government representatives.  

 

An aggrieved Swami Agnivesh, felt cheated by the Government and the Home Minister, moved the SC and sought investigations by the CBI. Based on his petition, the highest court ordered the CBI to register cases and investigate the reported encounter.

 

The CBI can now interrogate any official or politician including the Home Minister Chidambaram as part of the investigations.