AP CM accuses Oppn of politicising Ayesha murder case

Hyderabad, Feb 26 (UNI) Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy today accused the Opposition parties of politicising the Ayesha Meera rape and murder case, alleging that they were doing so to bring discredit to the Government.

''This is an attempt by the Opposition to bring discredit to the Government, which is striving for the uplift of minorities by providing them reservation in education and employment and improving educational facilities,'' the Chief Minister said during Question hour after the Opposition parties staged a walkout in the Assembly on the issue.

Dr Reddy said it was unfortunate that the main Opposition party took the mother of the victim to different parts of the country, including New Delhi, and even promised party ticket in the next elections to fight her case. ''The TDP will even lose the status of main opposition party in the next elections,'' he sarcastically remarked.

Referring to the unresolved murder cases during the previous TDP regime, the Chief Minister said while the Congress was in the Opposition, it had not politicised the murder of actress Pratyusha, as also the killing of a tiger in Hyderabad.

On the other hand, the Congress Government itself had pressed for adjournment of regular business and discussed a suitcase bomb case relating to his son before concluding that there was no evidence of his son's link to the case, he said.

Only after the TDP asked for a probe by the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Government had recommended for CBI probe, Dr Reddy said, adding that it was unfair on the part of the Opposition to say now that it had no faith in the CBI.

Referring to the non-inclusion of rape charge in the First Information Report, he explained that as investigation progressed, a particular section of IPC was added or deleted and only the charges made in the chargesheet were final.

Earlier, Home Minister K Jana Reddy said a higher police officer would hold an inquiry and action would be taken if police personnel concerned were found guilty of dereliction of duty.

The investigation was being carried out by the local police with the assistance of the CB-CID and the State Government was yet to hear from the CBI on taking over the case, he informed.

The handwritings of 40 suspects were sent to the Forensic Science Lab, 30 suspects were subjected to DNA test and 27 suspects, including Muncipal Administration Minister K Ranga Rao's grandson Satishkumar, were subjected to lie detector tests, he added.

UNI SM VA GD AKJ RN1713