In a remarkable turn in the follow-up investigation of the suspected liquor scam during the rule of the YSR Congress Party, the Andhra Pradesh High Court recently posed a curious question to MP Pedireddi Mithun Reddy recently. The court inquired, “Are you afraid that the authorities will harm you, given your request for audio and video records of the proceedings?
This followed the Special Investigation Team (SIT), headed by Vijayawada Police Commissioner Rajasekhar Babu, starting investigation into the issue, with Mithun Reddy being one of the several people who got notices.”.
In order to avoid any arrests, Mithun Reddy had gone to the Supreme Court, where he got interim protection despite the High Court’s previous refusal to grant anticipatory bail. Since the SIT had asked him to come for interrogation, Mithun Reddy had sought permission from the High Court to record the interrogation via audio and video for transparency and documentation purposes.
Once they went through the petition, the High Court also ruled against providing permission for recording. The court noted that CCTV cameras were installed in the office of the SIT that would automatically record proceedings. But two lawyers were allowed to accompany Mithun Reddy during interrogation by the judge. In a very direct comment, the court asked whether there was any fear of mistreating Mithun Reddy on the part of the investigators to prompt his desire for recordings.
Responding to this, the lawyers of Mithun Reddy explained that the intention was not due to fear but out of making a proper and clear record of the process. The court acknowledged that CCTV cameras were needed for documentation and ruled against extra recordings. It also instructed the police to test the functionality of the cameras so as not to have any technical glitches leading to allegations of the lack of footage after the interrogation.
