The Supreme Court transferred the 2021 murder case of Telangana lawyers Gattu Vaman Rao and P V Nagamani to the CBI, stressing the need for a deeper probe after their allegations of police harassment and custodial death.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court transferred the investigation into the 2021 murder of Telangana lawyers Gattu Vaman Rao and P V Nagamani to the CBI, emphasizing the need for a more thorough inquiry.
The couple was killed after bringing forth allegations of police harassment and custodial death.
This decision came during a hearing regarding a plea from Gattu Kishan Rao, who requested a CBI investigation into the murders of his son and daughter-in-law.
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Both lawyers, who practiced in the high court, were attacked by two assailants who intercepted their car and assaulted them with knives and other weapons near a village in Ramagiri Mandal.
In September 2020, Gattu Vaman and Nagamani had approached the high court, citing harassment and threats from police following their submission of a letter (which was later accepted as a PIL) concerning the alleged custodial death of an individual at the Manthani police station.
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The couple was also involved in filing PILs on various public issues across different courts, including the high court.
According to police reports, two individuals in another vehicle ambushed the couple’s car and violently attacked them before escaping.
The Supreme Court’s decision to transfer the Telangana lawyers’ murder case to the CBI is supported by Article 142 of the Constitution of India and Section 406 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC), read with its powers under Article 32.
- Article 142, Constitution of India – Empowers the Supreme Court to pass any decree or order necessary for “complete justice” in any cause or matter pending before it.
- Article 32, Constitution of India – Provides the right to constitutional remedies and gives the Supreme Court jurisdiction to protect fundamental rights.
- Section 406, CrPC – Allows the Supreme Court to transfer cases from one court to another, or to another investigating agency, in the interest of justice.
Vaman Rao and Nagamani, both lawyers practicing at the high court, were attacked and killed by two assailants who stopped their car near a village in Ramagiri Mandal.
The attackers used knives and other weapons in the assault. In September 2020, the duo had approached the high court, claiming harassment and threats from the police after they submitted a letter, which was treated as a Public Interest Litigation (PIL), concerning an alleged custodial death at the Manthani police station.
They were also known for filing multiple PILs on various public matters in different courts.
Case Title: Gattu Kishan Rao v. State of Telangana
Case Number: SLP(Crl) No. 9145/2021
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