HYDERABAD: Chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao on Monday refused to hand over the ongoing investigation into the illegal activities of slain gangster Mohammed Nayeemuddin alias Nayeem to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).
Rao said the state police were capable of investigating the case and they should get the credit for the investigation into the case.
Even as the opposition parties demanded a CBI probe into the case during a short-duration discussion in the State Legislative Assembly on the measures taken by the government to curb the crimes of the Nayeem gang that posed immense threat to the law and order, Rao said the state police should get the credit of probing the Nayeem case.
“State police has won several awards and they are capable of investigating the case. They arrested as many as 124 persons in connection with Nayeem case. The entire credit for investigation should go to the state police,” he said. Currently, the Special Investigation Team (SIT) consisting of state police officials is investigating the case.
Even as the opposition blamed the state government for the delay of two years in taking action against Nayeem, Rao retorted: “Who is the creator of the ghost called Nayeem? Who ruled the state for 10 years? Who was in power when Nayeem went underground in 2007? Is it a crime to take action in two years’ time whereas a party failed to take action in 10 years’ time?”
Rao, however, said they would take action against those who maintained links with Nayeem irrespective of their political identity. “We will not spare anyone. We will punish even if the culprits belong to TRS,” he said.
“Several innocent people became victims of the atrocities committed by Nayeem. Public was forced to live in fear. During the regime of previous governments, Nayeem carried out his activities without hindrance,” he said and claimed that crime rate in TS came down after the formation of the TRS government.
Earlier, Congress MLA T Jeevan Reddy demanded that the state order a CBI probe into the Nayeem case and also make public the diary of the slain Naxalite-turned-gangster. “Place Nayeem’s diary before the speaker for our scrutiny,” he demanded.
Jeevan Reddy wanted punishment for all who were hand in glove with Nayeem. The properties forcibly collected by the Nayeem gang should be given back to the original owners, he said.
BJP’s Ch Ramachandra Reddy demanded the links between Nayeem and IPS officers to be unravelled. Soon after CM’s reply, Speaker S Madhusudhana Chary adjourned the House for the day.
Speaking at the media point later, Congress members, who wanted to seek clarifications on the CM’s reply, alleged that their voice was being stifled on the floor of the House.