Hyderabad: Telangana high court on Monday directed the station house officer of Masab Tank police station to return the cellphone to BRS legislator Padi Kaushik Reddy, which was taken from him on Dec 5.
Justice B Vijaysen Reddy asked police to follow due procedure and issue notices to petitioner if they intend to keep the mobile for the purpose of investigation. The judge was hearing a plea by the Huzurabad MLA challenging the action of Masab Tank SHO for taking away his Apple iPhone 14 Pro Max without following any procedure relating to seizure of electronic devices.
Senior counsel Gandra Mohan Rao, who appeared for the petitioner, told the court that police had barged into the house of the MLA and took away his phone. He said that this raid was the result of a political vendetta.
Public prosecutor Palle Nageshwar Rao informed the court that the cellphone was sent to the Forensic Science Laboratory for analysis. “The petitioner is acting at the behest of BRS top leadership and hatching conspiracies against the state govt,” he said citing a confession the MLA allegedly made before police.
At this, the judge said such confessions before police were inadmissible before law and directed cops to return the mobile phone.
Justice B Vijaysen Reddy asked police to follow due procedure and issue notices to petitioner if they intend to keep the mobile for investigation
