Don't arrest KTR's brother-in-law, HC tells cops

[Anta Assamey]

The Telangana high court on Monday directed the Cyberabad police not to arrest Pakala Rajendra Prasad, alias Raj Pakala, brother-in-law of Bharat Rashtra Samithi working president and former minister K T Rama Rao, at least for now, in connection with the alleged supply of drugs at a party hosted by him at his farmhouse at Janwada on the outskirts of Hyderabad on Saturday night.

A high court bench headed by Justice B Vijay Sen Reddy, however, gave two days’ time to Raj Pakala, to appear before the investigating officer for questioning in connection with the case.

The judge heard the arguments on a petition filed by Raj challenging the notice served on him by the police of Mokila police station on Sunday night, asking him to appear before the investigation officer at 11 am on Monday for questioning with regard to the party hosted by him.

The police stated: "It is revealed that there are reasonable grounds to question you to ascertain facts and circumstances from you, in relation to the present investigation. Hence, you are directed to appear before me on October 28, 11 am with proof of identity and residence."

The police cautioned that if Pakala failed to attend or comply with the terms of notice, he would be liable for arrest under section 35(3),(4),(5) and (6) of BNSS.’

Raj moved the high court seeking protection from arrest by the police who he alleged were trying to implicate him in a criminal case.

His counsel said the police had conducted a raid on the latter’s farmhouse when he was hosting a Diwali party for family members, relatives and friends. 

“The police claimed that one of the employees of his firm had tested positive for drugs and based on this, they booked Pakala as one of the accused in the case. It is purely a politically-motivated case,” he argued.

Arguing on behalf of the Cyberabad police, additional advocate general Imran Khan said the police had not arrested anyone in the case so far, nor had they mentioned about the arrest in the notice given to Pakala. 

“The police only wanted to question Pakala because they had seized several foreign liquor bottles from the farmhouse without any permits and also one of the participants tested positive for drugs,” he said, adding that no serious measures would be taken during the questioning.

After hearing the arguments, Justice B Vijay Sen Reddy gave two days’ time to Pakala to appear before the investigating officer. The judge asked the police to follow the law during the investigation.