Maharashtra court issues non-bailable arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh CM Chandrababu Naidu in 8-years-old case
The Maharashtra court has issued a non-bailable warrant against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 15 others in the 8-year-old case. The court has directed the police to arrest and produce Naidu and others before it by September 21.
TDP leaders said the arrest warrant reeks of a political vendetta by BJP. “This is nothing but a conspiracy by the BJP to intimidate TDP. BJP is afraid of the alliance that TDP is forming in Telangana and the arrest warrant, which had expired, has been renewed to intimidate us,” Telangana TDP president L Ramana said.
Arrest warrant has been issued by Maharashtra's Dharmabad Court against Andhra Pradesh CM N Chandrababu Naidu, AP irrigation minister and 14 others in connection with an agitation held by TDP in 2010 against the Maharashtra govt opposing the construction of Babhali project.
— ANI (@ANI) September 14, 2018
The arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh CM and others were issued in connection with a protest in 2010 when Naidu and others were opposing a water project in Babli (Maharashtra) across the Godavari. The police had then arrested Naidu and others and lodged them in a jail in Pune. They were later released.
“It is revenge politics by BJP, PM Modi and Amit Shah,” TDP leader B Venkanna said.
A local resident filed the petition against them that was heard by a judicial first class magistrate of Dharmabad in Nanded district of Maharashtra. Reportedly, the Andhra Pradesh chief minister Naidu and others have been charged under the Indian Penal Code with offences like assault or criminal force, to deter public servant from discharge of duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, criminal intimidation, among others.
"He fought to protect the interests of Telangana. He even refused to seek bail when he was arrested," N Lokesh, Naidu's son and state Information Technology Minister said.
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First published: 14 September 2018, 15:50 IST