Telangana HC reserves orders in book seizure case

Hyderabad: Justice K Lakshman of the Telangana High Court on Friday reserved for orders two cases pertaining to seizure of a book Sayudha Shanthi Swapnam on Maoist leader and Central Committee member Akkiraju Hargopal alias Ramakrishna alias RK.The police seized the print material and booked cases against Navya Printers under the Telangana Public Security Act. It is contended that without following CrPC, the material was seized and was not produced before the Magistrate. The petitioner Sirisha complained that her husband’s memoir on his death, a collection of songs, poetry, and articles on him and by him, were brought as a book and most of them were already published.

Nandigam Krishna Rao, the petitioner’s counsel said that the notification under which book was banned and seized was not referred in the FIR or report before the Magistrate. The notification was back dated he said. He also pointed to various historical incidents on banning of books and later revoking the ban.

---

The judge reserved the cases for orders after hearing both sides at length.