Questioning the efficiency of the police for being unable to file a chargesheet against Maoist leader D Keshav Rao alias Azad, who is on hunger strike for last six days demanding speedy trial of the case against him, Azad’s lawyer on Monday alleged that a conspiracy was hatched by the Odisha and Andhra Pradesh police to put the surrendered Maoist behind bars for a long period.
Azad’s lawyer Dilli Rao told reporters that they have filed a criminal case against the police, who said that they arrested Azad in Bhubaneswar.
“The fact is that Azad was taken from the office of the Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), Palasa in the presence of the SP, local MlA and some other leaders. He was then handed over to the Odisha police. There was a conspiracy between the Odisha and AP police,” said the lawyer.
Accusing the Odisha police of delaying the case of Azad, Rao stated that the police have failed to produce witnesses as mandated by the court of law.
“If the Odisha police behave like this, they will criminalise the society. In my clients’ case, for the last one year, they have brought one witness over three months. It is quite painful that they are making no effort to expedite the trial,” he stated.
From the day of the arrest till now, Azad is under judicial custody for last five years.
The lawyer also said that if cases are so strong against him, he must be chargesheeted.