High Court Intervenes in Ibrahimpatnam Municipal Election Amidst Kidnapping and Political Pressure Allegations
The election for the municipal chairperson in Ibrahimpatnam, located on the outskirts of Hyderabad, descended into chaos and legal drama on Tuesday. A fierce power struggle within the political factions spilled over into the Telangana High Court, with serious allegations of kidnapping, intense political pressure, and alleged police interference dominating the proceedings.
Court Directs Police to Produce Councillor and Appoints Amicus Curiae
A division bench comprising Justices Moushumi Bhattacharya and Gadi Praveen Kumar issued a direct order to the Ibrahimpatnam police. The bench mandated that councillor Akula Yadagiri be produced before the court at 10:30 AM on Wednesday. Furthermore, in a move to ensure impartiality, the court appointed a senior advocate to serve as amicus curiae, tasked with assisting the court in this highly contentious matter.
Akula Yadagiri, who was elected from ward 19 on a BRS ticket, is at the center of the controversy. He was allegedly kidnapped by leaders from a rival faction within his own political party. The court was hearing a habeas corpus petition filed urgently by his son, Akula Harikanth. The petition claimed the abduction was a deliberate act to prevent Yadagiri from assuming the position of municipal chairperson.
Allegations Point to Former MLA and Son
Harikanth's petition specifically named former MLA Manchireddy Kishan Reddy and his son, Prashanth Reddy, accusing them of orchestrating the kidnapping. A formal missing person case had already been registered at the Ibrahimpatnam police station prior to the court hearing. Initially, treating the petition as a lunch motion, the bench took swift action by staying the election for both the chairperson and vice-chairman posts. They also directed that Yadagiri be produced before the court on February 20th.
However, the situation took another twist during the post-lunch session. Lawyers representing a vice-chairman candidate from a different party informed the court that Yadagiri had, in fact, appeared at the municipal council meeting. They stated he had taken the oath as a councillor before the returning officer and had even participated in the chairperson election.
Conflicting Claims and Concerns Over Police Influence
When the bench indicated it would instruct the police to bring Yadagiri to court, senior counsel L Ravi Chander raised a significant objection. He expressed concerns that the police could potentially be under the influence of the state government, questioning their impartiality in the matter.
In response, Harikanth's counsel, A. Venkatesh, presented a counter-narrative. He argued that Yadagiri remained effectively in the custody of the former MLA and was forcibly brought to the council meeting. "They did not allow even his wife and son to meet him at the meeting," Venkatesh told the court, emphasizing the lack of freedom.
Legal Maneuvers and the Appointment of an Amicus
Ravi Chander urged the court not to task the police with producing Yadagiri, instead requesting the appointment of an independent advocate commissioner. Conversely, Venkatesh pressed for the police to immediately take Yadagiri into protective custody and present him before the court to ensure his safety and voluntary testimony.
Venkatesh further submitted to the court that Yadagiri himself wished to come to court voluntarily but was prevented from doing so by the Ibrahimpatnam Assistant Commissioner of Police. The ACP allegedly insisted that Yadagiri's statement be recorded first in connection with the ongoing case, creating another layer of obstruction.
Faced with these deeply conflicting claims and allegations of external pressure, the bench took a decisive step. They appointed advocate A Ramakrishna Reddy as the amicus curiae to assist in safeguarding the sanctity and fairness of the judicial proceedings. The matter was subsequently adjourned, leaving the political and legal fate of the Ibrahimpatnam municipal leadership in suspense pending further court orders and investigation.
