Andhra Pradesh High Court Dismisses Habeas Corpus Pleas for Maoist Leaders: No Evidence of Custody
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has dismissed two habeas corpus petitions seeking the whereabouts of CPI (Maoist) leaders Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji and Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram. The Court held that there was no prima facie evidence to establish that the two leaders were in the custody of the police. The judgment reinforces the fundamental principles governing habeas corpus jurisdiction and the evidentiary thresholds required for such relief. Background of the Habeas Corpus Petitions The petitions were filed by the relatives of the two missing Maoist leaders—Devji’s brother Tippiri Gangadhar and Raji Reddy’s daughter Malla Snehalatha. They sought directions to the police to produce the leaders before the court, alleging their detention after a major encounter on November 18 in Alluri Sitarama Raju district. The encounter reportedly resulted in the killing of six Maoists, including top commander Madvi Hidma. Petitioners argued that senior police officers had hinted in medi...