Sudhakar case posted to June 28

Hyderabad, June 23 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Police today informed a division bench of the High Court that top CPI(Maoist) leader Sudhakar ''was not'' in their custody.

The bench comprising Justice T Meena Kumari and Justice N V Ramana had yesterday directed the police to produce Sudhakar before it or file a detailed status on the Maoist leader after his octogernarian mother Saraswathamma filed a Habeas Corpus petition fearing her son's safety.

The petitioner had contended that her son was in police custody after an encounter at Vijayanagaram early this week and feared foul play.

Appearing before the bench, the government public prosecutor today submitted that police did not have Maoist leader in their custody.

However, the bench posted the case to June 28 for next hearing.

Meanwhile, regional media channels put out a report that they had reportedly received a cassette in which Sudhakar said that he was safe. However, the voice-over of Sudhakar was still to be verified.

UNI XR/ASJ VV HS DB2037