The Maharashtra Court issued an arrest warrant against Andhra Pradesh’s Chief Minister, N.Chandrababu Naidu. The warrant was issued over the Babli project across Godavari river.
The first class Judicial Magistrate of Dharmabad in Nanded District N. R. Gajbhiye issued the arrest warrant and ordered police to arrest Chandrababu Naidu along with 15 others accused and present them in Court by the 21st of September.
Apart from Chandrababu Naidu, Andhra Pradesh State Water Resource Minister Devineni Umamaheshwaram Rao, Andhra Pradesh’s Social Welfare Minister N. Anand Babu and former MLA G. Kamalakar will also be arrested as they were also involved in the case.
Mr. Naidu, during the protest in 2010, was in the opposition in the united Andhra Pradesh. He was then taken into custody including 76 Telugu Desam Party (TDP) legislators as they violated prohibitory orders in Nanded. They were arrested and later released.
TDP had then alleged that the barrage was being built illegally by the Maharastra Government. They opposed and said that building the barrage would block water supply to those living downstream in the former Andhra Pradesh. The matter went to the Supreme Court, which was in favour of Maharashtra with the order and assurance of adequate water supply downstream.
The accused have been charged with the Indian Penal Code (IPC) offences, including assault or criminal force, to deter public servant from discharge of duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, criminal intimidation among others.
Information and Technology Minister of Andhra Pradesh N. Lokesh said that they would attend the court. He further added that Mr. Naidu fought to protect the interests of Telangana and also refused to seek the bail when arrested.
The Chief Minister was attending the annual brahmotsavam at the Lord Venkateswara Temple in Tirumala near Tirupati when the warrant was issued.
