Telangana HC clears Ibrahimpatnam municipal chairman election

The Telangana High Court allowed the Ibrahimpatnam municipal chairman election to proceed after producing BRS councillor Akula Yadagiri before it, disposed of a habeas corpus plea alleging illegal detention, and directed police to prevent coercion and restore his belongings

Hyderabad: Justice Moushmi Bhattacharya and Justice Gadi Praveen Kumar of the Telangana High Court continued hearing on Wednesday a habeas corpus petition alleging forcible detention of Ibrahimpatnam municipal councillor Akula Yadagiri, and later permitted election process for the Ibrahimpatnam municipal chairman to go ahead.

The petition was filed by Akula Harikanth, son of Yadagiri, a BRS councillor from Ward No.19 of Ibrahimpatnam Municipality in Rangareddy district, alleging that his father had been abducted and illegally confined. The petitioner sought directions to the police to trace and produce the councillor before the court.

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Pursuant to earlier directions of the High Court, the police produced Yadagiri before the court. During the hearing, Senior Counsel A Venkatesh, appearing for Yadagiri, informed the court that he had been forcibly taken away by Prashanth Reddy, son of former MLA Manchireddy Kishan Reddy, and was allegedly driven around from morning till evening without being allowed proper rest or medical care despite suffering from diabetes and blood pressure-related ailments.

He further alleged that his mobile phone and election certificate were taken away and that he was compelled to state before the media that he had gone to a resort voluntarily.

Senior Counsel C Raghu, appearing for the former MLA, however, disputed the allegations and submitted that Yadagiri had participated in the political process of his own accord and had earlier stated to the media that he had travelled voluntarily. It was also submitted that the municipal chairman election had already been completed and that the required majority was secured even without Yadagiri’s vote.

Senior Counsel L Ravichander, appearing for an impleaded vice-chairman candidate, contended that the limited purpose of the habeas corpus petition stood satisfied once the alleged detenue was produced before the court and that other political disputes could not be adjudicated within the scope of such proceedings.

After hearing all parties, the Bench observed that since Yadagiri had appeared before the court, he was free to act according to his own will. The court directed the police to ensure that no individual exerted pressure or coercion on him until completion of the election process and to facilitate restoration of his personal belongings, including his mobile phone and election certificate.

In view of the developments and the production of the councillor before the court, the Bench lifted the earlier stay relating to the election of Ibrahimpatnam municipal chairman and disposed of the habeas corpus petition.