The Hindu : Andhra Pradesh News : Former Minister, 7 others get life-term

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Thursday, Dec 23, 2004

Andhra Pradesh

Andhra Pradesh

Former Minister, 7 others get life-term

By Our Staff Reporter

HYDERABAD, DEC. 22. The former Telugu Desam Minister, P. Ramasubba Reddy, was sentenced to life imprisonment along with seven others by the Metropolitan Sessions Judge (MSJ) here on Wednesday for the murder of two Congress leaders in Shadnagar of Mahabubnagar district.

Pronouncing the judgement in a packed courtroom, the judge, K. Rajagopal Reddy, convicted them under sections 302, 147 and 148 of the Indian Penal Code and sentenced all eight to life imprisonment. The judge found them guilty in the killing of Chadipiralla Shankar Reddy and Lakkireddi Gopal Reddy, who were travelling in an RTC bus. Both were hacked to death at Shadnagar bus stand on December 5, 1990.

In all, 11 persons were cited as accused in the case. But, three of them — another former Minister, P. Siva Reddy, D. Chandrasekhara Reddy and D. Rammohan Reddy — died before the trial commenced. Siva Reddy, an MLA and paternal uncle of Mr. Ramasubba Reddy, was murdered here in 1993.

Involvement denied

Apart from the ex-Minister, others convicted are four brothers — J. Venkatram Reddy, J. Sivaram Reddy, J. Vema Narayana Reddy and J. Narayana Reddy — and M. Sarveshwar Reddy, N. Sambasiva Reddy and L.Venkatramana Rao.

Speaking to reporters after the judgement was pronounced, Mr. Ramasubba Reddy denied any involvement in the murder case. "I am not directly or indirectly involved in the murders," he said. He would consult his lawyers before taking the next step. His counsel Surender Rao said that the judgement would be challenged in the High Court.

Hymavati, daughter of Siva Reddy, alleged that a conspiracy had been hatched against Mr. Reddy by the Congress MLA from Jammalamadugu and the Congress Government. "People of my constituency know what sort of a person Mr. Ramasubba Reddy is." She said they would not be cowed down by such a setback.

Emotional scenes

Emotional scenes were witnessed as family members of the convicted persons broke down.

Outside the court hall, their followers became restive and raised slogans against the Chief Minister and the Government. At one stage, the situation appeared to go out of control but the agitated followers were pacified. Mr. Reddy's followers vowed to fight it out.

As soon as the judgement was pronounced, the police whisked away the former Minister to Cherlapally prison even as a large number of TDP workers mobbed him.

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