Kanakamedala to appear for Naidu in Babli case

Amaravati: For TDP Rajya Sabha member Kanakamedala Ravindra Kumar, it is probably time for him to repay gratitude to his master. Ravindra Kumar, a High Court lawyer with vast experience, in all likelihood, will be representing Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu at Dharmabad court of Nanded district in Maharashtra on Friday.

Ravindra Kumar, who is also TDP legal cell member, will seek recall of the arrest warrant issued against Chandrababu Naidu for leading a delegation of TDP leaders in 2010 to Maharashtra to stage a demonstration at Babli project site, protesting the move to increase its height.  

Chandrababu Naidu, contending that Babli would hurt the interests of Telangana farmers ahead of byelections to 12 Telangana seats vacated by 10 TRS, one BJP and one TDP MLAs in protest against the terms of reference of Justice BN Krishna committee which was constituted to recommend solution to the demand for bifurcation of the state.

According to Advocate-General Dammalapati Srinivasa Rao, the legal experts of the state government will attend the court. "The government has not yet received any non-bailable arrest warrant against Chandrababu Naidu," he said. He however was cagey about Ravindra Kumar representing Naidu, though reliable sources confirmed Ravindra Kumar taking up the responsibility.

Meanwhile, Housing Minister K Srinivasulu said that the state government will lodge a recall petition on this case. "The TDP cadres are of the opinion that the BJP was trying to intimidate Chandrababu Naidu and the TDP through government agencies and courts.

He said that the BJP is in power in Maharashtra and if they want they could withdraw the cases. The TDP leaders fought against the illegal construction of Babli project, which would affect the north Telangana people, he added.