Vijayawada: Andhra Pradesh high court on Tuesday reserved orders in the petition filed by former YSRCP MLA Chevireddy Bhaskar Reddy, seeking to quash the Pocso case registered against him. Police booked Reddy for allegedly revealing the identity of a minor girl and making false claims that the girl was raped. The court said orders will be given on Jan 10.
Public prosecutor Menda Lakshmi Narayana said police registered the case following a complaint by the father of the minor girl. However, he later recused from his complaint and filed a petition in the high court alleging that his signature was misused to lodge the complaint. Lakshmi Narayana said the girl’s father colluded with the accused and levelled false allegations against the police. He said there is no need to take the statement of the complainant under section 161 of CrPC, and submitted video footage of the complainant coming to the police station and lodging the complaint.
Lakshmi Narayana further argued that according to criminal jurisprudence, after registration of the crime the complainant has nothing to do with the investigation. It is the duty of the police to investigate, and the accused has to defend his case. Reddy was booked under relevant sections of the Pocso Act for making “false statements” about a girl, who went missing and was later traced with injuries. Reddy made statements in the media that the girl was raped.
Arguing on behalf of Reddy, senior counsel P Veera Reddy said the police registered a case against the petitioner without there being any complaint. He said the complainant himself filed a petition before the high court stating that he is being harassed and a false case was booked against the petitioner. Veera Reddy further argued that none of the sections included in the FIR applies to the alleged offence. Stating that it is a case of political vendetta, Veera Reddy said police are misusing the judicial process and sought quashing of the case.