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NEW DELHI: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) has arrested two more accused in an ongoing investigation in a case relating to making derogatory posts on the social media against judges of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and the Supreme Court, officials said on Sunday.
Five accused have so far been arrested in the case by investigating agency.
The role of a Lok Sabha member, Nandigam Suresh, and Amanchi Krishna Mohan, both of the YSR Congress, are under scanner in the case, and both have been examined by the agency in its effort to unearth a larger conspiracy, they said.
The CBI arrested Pattapu Aadarsh and Lavanuru Samba Siva Reddy from Andhra Pradesh on Saturday. Earlier, it had arrested Dhami Reddy Konda Reddy and Pamula Sudheer on July 28, while Lingareddy Rajasekhar Reddy, who was residing in Kuwait, was arrested on July 9 when he landed in India, the officials said.
“The agency was monitoring his movements. The moment he landed in India, the officers took him into their custody”, an official said.
“To investigate the larger conspiracy, the CBI has also examined certain persons, including an MP, ex-MLA and also continued investigation into the role of other persons who were not mentioned in the FIR,” CBI spokesperson RC Joshi said.
16 booked in the case
As many as 16 people were booked in the said case for allegedly posting defamatory contents against the judges.
The Andhra Pradesh high court had directed the agency to probe the case and submit a report to it in a sealed cover.
“It was alleged that the accused, by intentionally targeting the judiciary, made derogatory posts on social media platforms against judges and judiciary, following some court verdicts delivered by the judges of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh,” Joshi said.
After registration of the case, the CBI traced 13 of the 16 accused named in the FIR on various digital platforms, he said.
“Three out of them were found to be abroad. The CBI has so far examined 11 out of the above 13 accused persons and arrested five out of them. Evidence against the remaining six accused persons is being evaluated for further necessary legal action. CBI is pursuing to secure the presence of two other accused said to be abroad for their examination,” Joshi said.
CBI carried out searches
The agency carried out searches at the premises of the accused persons that led to the information that one of them was allegedly using a passport in a different name, he said.
During the searches, incriminating documents were found, the CBI spokesperson added.
“Action was also initiated by CBI, after it had registered this case to get objectionable posts removed from the social media platforms, public domains and a lot of such posts or accounts were removed from the internet,” Joshi said.
The investigation is underway, including through the channels of MLAT and Interpol, to collect evidence from abroad, he said.
Taking cognisance of the alleged defamatory posts, the high court had noted: “…the postings were made to bring hatred, contempt, incite disaffection and ill-will against the high court and honourable judges.”
Arrests follow CJI’s remarks
The arrests follow Chief Justice of India NV Ramana remarks that agencies “do not respond” when judges of the lower courts complain about threats.
The CJI passed the remark when the Supreme Court had taken up the recent case of Jharkhand district judge’s death.
Terming the incidents of judges being threatened as serious, the SC had asked the states to file status reports on the security they are providing to the judicial officers.
“There are several cases in the country which involve gangsters and where high-profile people are accused. So, judges are threatened mentally also by sending messages on WhatsApp, SMS. Complaints were made but CBI has done nothing. There is no change in CBI’s attitude. I’m sorry to observe,” an apex court bench had said.
“There is no freedom to the judges to even file a complaint,” the SC said, adding that police or the CBI is not helping the judiciary if such complaints are filed.
(With inputs from agencies)
Five accused have so far been arrested in the case by investigating agency.
The role of a Lok Sabha member, Nandigam Suresh, and Amanchi Krishna Mohan, both of the YSR Congress, are under scanner in the case, and both have been examined by the agency in its effort to unearth a larger conspiracy, they said.
The CBI arrested Pattapu Aadarsh and Lavanuru Samba Siva Reddy from Andhra Pradesh on Saturday. Earlier, it had arrested Dhami Reddy Konda Reddy and Pamula Sudheer on July 28, while Lingareddy Rajasekhar Reddy, who was residing in Kuwait, was arrested on July 9 when he landed in India, the officials said.
“The agency was monitoring his movements. The moment he landed in India, the officers took him into their custody”, an official said.
“To investigate the larger conspiracy, the CBI has also examined certain persons, including an MP, ex-MLA and also continued investigation into the role of other persons who were not mentioned in the FIR,” CBI spokesperson RC Joshi said.
16 booked in the case
As many as 16 people were booked in the said case for allegedly posting defamatory contents against the judges.
The Andhra Pradesh high court had directed the agency to probe the case and submit a report to it in a sealed cover.
“It was alleged that the accused, by intentionally targeting the judiciary, made derogatory posts on social media platforms against judges and judiciary, following some court verdicts delivered by the judges of the High Court of Andhra Pradesh,” Joshi said.
After registration of the case, the CBI traced 13 of the 16 accused named in the FIR on various digital platforms, he said.
“Three out of them were found to be abroad. The CBI has so far examined 11 out of the above 13 accused persons and arrested five out of them. Evidence against the remaining six accused persons is being evaluated for further necessary legal action. CBI is pursuing to secure the presence of two other accused said to be abroad for their examination,” Joshi said.
CBI carried out searches
The agency carried out searches at the premises of the accused persons that led to the information that one of them was allegedly using a passport in a different name, he said.
During the searches, incriminating documents were found, the CBI spokesperson added.
“Action was also initiated by CBI, after it had registered this case to get objectionable posts removed from the social media platforms, public domains and a lot of such posts or accounts were removed from the internet,” Joshi said.
The investigation is underway, including through the channels of MLAT and Interpol, to collect evidence from abroad, he said.
Taking cognisance of the alleged defamatory posts, the high court had noted: “…the postings were made to bring hatred, contempt, incite disaffection and ill-will against the high court and honourable judges.”
Arrests follow CJI’s remarks
The arrests follow Chief Justice of India NV Ramana remarks that agencies “do not respond” when judges of the lower courts complain about threats.
The CJI passed the remark when the Supreme Court had taken up the recent case of Jharkhand district judge’s death.
Terming the incidents of judges being threatened as serious, the SC had asked the states to file status reports on the security they are providing to the judicial officers.
“There are several cases in the country which involve gangsters and where high-profile people are accused. So, judges are threatened mentally also by sending messages on WhatsApp, SMS. Complaints were made but CBI has done nothing. There is no change in CBI’s attitude. I’m sorry to observe,” an apex court bench had said.
“There is no freedom to the judges to even file a complaint,” the SC said, adding that police or the CBI is not helping the judiciary if such complaints are filed.
(With inputs from agencies)
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