HYDERABAD: TRS politburo member Dr Cheruku Sudhakar, who was detained under the National Security Act, 1980, was released on bail from Warangal Central Prison Thursday within a few hours after the Andhra Pradesh High Court gave an order in this regard.
The court was acting on petitions filed by Sudhakar’s wife Laxmi Bai, TRS party and Telangana Advocates Joint Action Committee after the state government, in an extraordinary move, issued an order for detention of the TRS politburo member for 12 months. A division bench comprising justice A Gopal Reddy and justice R Kantha Rao felt that Sudhakar’s detention under the NSA on charges of damaging government properties was illegal.The division bench of the court found fault with the government for ordering Sudhakar’s detention merely on the ground of his association with Left-wing movement in the past. Sudhakar was detained under NSA on the charges of damaging government properties.
In their petition, the petitioners explained to the court that Sudhakar, who is a private medical practitioner, was leading a peaceful life but the police implicated him in false cases for taking part in the separate Telangana movement.
They alleged that the state government did not follow basic procedures prescribed under NSA while arresting Sudhakar and issued orders for keeping him under detention violating the Article 3(3) of the NSA for 12 months at once. Further hearing of the case has been postponed and the next date will be announced later.
The High Court orders came as a big relief for TRS and pro-Telangana activists said the orders are an eyeopener for the state government.
TJAC chairman Prof M Kodandaram and TRS MLA T Harish Rao termed the High Court orders as a slap on the face of the state government which has failed to keep up the democratic spirit of the nation. They demanded the government change its attitude towards peaceful protestors participating in the separate statehood movement.
Meanwhile, Sudhakar thanked one and all after his release. He alleged his arrest was a result of the conspiracy hatched by Seemandhra leaders and officials.