Telangana Lawyer Couple Murder Case: Supreme Court Refuses To Entertain PIL Seeking Investigation; Says Matter Pending In HC

The Supreme Court on Friday declined to entertain the plea seeking investigation by an Independent Investigation Agency into murder of a Telangana lawyer couple this year.

A three judge Bench of CJI Bobde, Justices Bopanna and Justice Ramasubramanian has asked the petitioner to withdraw the plea and approach the High Court with the same prayer.

During the hearing, a three-judge Bench led by CJI Bobde observed that the matter is still sub-judice before the Telangana High Court.

The Counsel appearing for the petitioner submitted before the Court that its true, that there are 3 matters pending before the Telangana High Court, including the matter filed by father of deceased and taken up on the Chief Justice's cognisance.

He further added that prayer c of their plea is very important, as it talks about securities for lawyers.

"You must understand, that security is almost always a state matter. You withdraw this, go to the High Court and make the same prayer. If you don't succeed, you come here" the Bench observed.

The Court was hearing a public interest petition filed by Anti-Corruption Council of India Trust.

A Division Bench of Justices Hima Kohli and Justice B. Vijaysen Reddy of Telangana High Court had in February 2021 taken suo motu cognizance on the murder of a lawyer couple Advocates Gattu Vaman Rao and his wife PV Nagamani, who were murdered in broad daylight after having complained of harassment in connection to the public interest litigations filed by them earlier.

Rao and Nagamani had filed a PIL against alleged custodial death of one Seelam Rangaiah in Manthani. In a letter addressed to the High Court Chief Justice, the couple had alleged that Rangaiah was brought to the Manthani Police Station and was kept under lock-up for four days. During this period, he was allegedly subjected to custodial torture. Subsequently, unable to bear the police atrocities, it was claimed that Mr. Rangaiah died in the lock-up under suspicious circumstances on 26.05.2020 at 4:00 a.m.

Advocate Nagamani, one of the deceased, had then prayed before the Court to issue directions for registration of an FIR and also conduct a judicial enquiry into the death of Sheelam Rangaiah.

In September 2020, the couple had moved an application before the Court, alleging that they are being threatened by the Police Department.

Advocate Nagamani had alleged that her husband was falsely implicated in a FIR and she was threatened over phone that by getting involved in this case, she is not only risking her life but also the lives of her children and other family members.

The Bar Council of Telangana had issued a statement condemning the alleged incident. "The country is witnessing frequent attacks on advocates and that no person can take Law into hands and resort to illegal activities and that the matter shall be dealt with as per the Law," it said.

The Council had also demanded the Police to probe the and arrest the culprits. It had m asked the Government to enact Advocates Protection Act to safeguard the Advocate Community, who discharge their duties to protect the rights of the Citizens.