Southern States - Andhra Pradesh

Naidu told to take steps for prosecution of Kodela

By Our Staff Reporter

Rajahmundry FEB. 17. The PCC spokesman, Vundavilli Arun Kumar, and the city unit convener, Routhu Surya Prakasha Rao, on Sunday contended that the CBI had never given a `clean chit' to the Minister for Civil Supplies. Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, as claimed, but was forced to close the case because the Home Ministry, New Delhi, had not given its consent for prosecuting him. Releasing copies of the CBI report to pressmen here on Sunday, Mr. Arun Kumar demanded that the Chief Minister drop Kodela from the Cabinet and take steps for his prosecution.

The relevant paragraphs of the CBI report was as follows "After taking up the investigation, the CBI examined a large number of witnesses, collected relevant documents -- and on completion of investigation, the CBI wrote to the competent authority -- Ministry of Home Affairs, Government of India-- seeking consent to prosecute Dr. Kodela Sivaprasada Rao and four diseased persons for offences punishable Under Section 5 of the Explosive Substances Act.

However after due consideration the competent authority has not accorded consent as required under Section 7 of the Explosive Substances Act. In view of the facts and circumstances mentioned above --the case may kindly be allowed to be closed''.

In August 1999 there was an explosion in the hospital-cum-residence of Dr. K.Siva Prasada Rao resulting in the death of four persons.

The case was entrusted to the CBI for investigation. Mr. Arun Kumar said never in the past had such a blatant effort been made to completely mislead the public.

He said legal options would be explored to ensure that Dr. Kodela Siva Prasada Rao was prosecuted. In the interest of justice, the Chief Minister, N. Chandrababu Naidu, should see to it that the competent authority accorded consent for the prosecution, they said.

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