HC directs former MP to deposit Rs 5 lakh for PIL on pastor death
Vijayawada: The high court on Wednesday directed former MP G V Harsha Kumar to deposit Rs 5 lakh with the registry to prove his bona fides in filing the PIL petition seeking a judicial inquiry into the death of pastor Praveen Pagadala.
The HC bench headed by Chief Justice Dhiraj Singh Thakur and Justice Cheemalapati Ravi observed that Praveen was seen purchasing liquor in the CCTV footage and later driving his bike, which the bench said was a dangerous combination. The bench also asked whether any material was available suggesting it as murder.
Harsha Kumar filed the PIL seeking a judicial inquiry with a sitting judge of the high court and a re-postmortem with forensic experts from the All India Institute of Medical Sciences, New Delhi.
Arguing on his behalf, advocate Balaiah said there were many doubts over the death of Praveen and the investigation being done by the police.
The bench asked why another PIL was filed when two similar petitions were already pending. The bench also asked why the petitioner filed a PIL when he was not related to the deceased. Directing the registry to tag the petition with those filed earlier, the high court clarified that the hearing would be taken up only after depositing the money with the registry.
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