Telangana High Court orders judicial inquiry into death of rape accused

Telangana High Court ordered judicial inquiry into the alleged suicide death of Palakonda Raju, accused of rape and murder of a 6-year-old child in Saidabad. The court acted on the PIL filed by Civil Rights Association.

Hyderabad: Telangana High Court ordered judicial inquiry into the alleged suicide death of Palakonda Raju, accused of rape and murder of a 6-year-old child in Saidabad. The court acted on the PIL filed by Civil Rights Association.

Acting Chief Justice MS Ramachandra Rao, Justice T Amarnath Goud conducted an emergency trial on this lunch motion PIL filed by Professor Lakshman, CRA state president. The HC observed that an inquiry is necessary to ascertain the matter and directed Warangal Third Metropolitan Magistrate to hold a trial. Interim orders were issued directing the magistrate to conduct an inquiry within four weeks and submit a report in a sealed cover. The HC ordered the Warangal district principal judge to submit a postmortem video CD or pen drive on or before tomorrow at 8 pm.

The HC advised police, the accused's family or any other with information on Raju's death to inform the Magistrate. The HC sent notices to the secretary of state home, Director General of Police, Warangal Commissioner of Police, Secunderabad Railway Superintendent of Police for complete trial.

Petitioner's lawyer Venkanna contended that the police had failed to act in accordance with the law, even though Raju was allegedly involved in the case of rape and murder of a six-year-old girl. The petitioner suggested Rs 50 lakh compensation for the accused family.

Advocate General BS Prasad pointed out that there are two loco pilots and six eyewitnesses who validate the suicide. Prasad said that loco pilots informed higher officials immediately after the incident. The incident was also recorded in a video. The body was sent for post-mortem, handed over to family members and cremated. Saying that valuable time would be wasted, Prasad said that there was no need to conduct an inquiry.

Pallakonda Raju, 30-year-old man, who carried a bounty of Rs 10 lakh on his head in the brutal rape and murder of the minor at Singaneri Colony in Saidabad on September 9, was found dead on a railway track in Warangal's Ghanpur area on September 16. Police, who ascertained his identity from the tattoos on his hand, said he committed suicide.