CPIML strongly condemns the fabricated charges filed against Prof. Haragopal, Prof. Padmaja Shaw and 150 others under sedition and UAPA by Telangana Police. The charges are an attempt to throttle democratic dissenting voices that speak against the unjust and anti-people policies.
It is pertinent to note that, though the charges were filed in August 2022, the Telangana police attempted to keep it a secret. The matter came to light only when the police were forced to provide information by Ranga Reddy district court in a case filed against Chandramouli of People’s Democratic Movement (PDM). The FIR mentioned that the accused had tried to “take over the power of the democratically elected government at gunpoint”.
Prof Gaddam Laxman, President of Telangana Civil Liberties Committee, Indian Association of People’s Lawyers’ Justice (Retd) H Suresh, activist Sudha Bharadwaj, human rights lawyer Surendra Gadling, and activist Arun Ferreira are among those whose names are in the FIR.
As per the reports, following the public criticism Telangana Chief Minister has directed the police to drop the UAPA charges in the case. Police have only dropped UAPA charges against Prof Haragopal, Prof Padmaja Shaw, V Raghunath, Gaddam Laxman, Gunti Ravinder, and Suresh Kumar. The government must ensure that UAPA cases against all remaining 146 persons, who belong to poor families.are withdrawn.
We further demand the Telangana government must ensure a moratorium on draconian UAPA and sedition and scrap all cases filed under these.
