Satyam Babu, who spent eight years in prison, met the Krishna District Collector on Monday and sought succour for his poor family. Satyam Babu was acquitted by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in Ayesha Meera rape and murder case. He met the official along with the representatives of Dalit organisation to seek Government assistance. He detailed how his family had to suffer immensely while he was imprisoned.
District Collector Ahmad Babu directed the officials to allot a house to the family and provide a job on contract basis to Satyam’s brother. “We will provide all the possible assistance under the Government rules,” he assured Satyam Babu.
Meanwhile, the State Government is considering reopening of the Ayesha Meera case in which the High Court has passed stringent remarks against the State police for falsely implicating a Dalit youth while the real culprits remained at large. A decision in this regard is expected soon after State police chief K Sambasiva Rao returns from Israel. After his return, the Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu was expected to take a decision in consultation with the Advocate General.
Already the Dalit organisations along with other activists are holding protest demonstrations demanding action in the matter and arrest of the real culprits. The student community has also taken to the street on the issue.
Meanwhile, State Minister D Umamaheshwar Rao, who hails from Vijayawada, said that his party always held the view that Satyam Babu was innocent. “The then Congress Government had tried to shield the politically connected culprits and our party had fought against it,” said Umamaheshwar Rao, assuring that the Government will take all the possible measures to bring the culprits to the book.
“Now that the High Court has given its verdict, it is the responsibility of the Government to take action,” he said.
This was in sharp contrast to the stand taken by the Vijaywada Police Commissioner Gutam Sawang that the police might file an appeal against the High Court verdict acquitting Satyam Babu.
Other police officials said that they are still studying the judgment and will take a decision on the basis of legal advice.