IN THE HIGH COURT OF JUDICATURE, ANDHRA PRADESH AT HYDERABAD (Special Original Jurisdiction) PRESENT: THE HON’BLE MR. JUSTICE C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY WEDNESDAY, THE TENTH DAY OF MARCH, TWO THOUSAND TEN WRIT PETITION No.3836 of 2010 Between: Thangella Nanaji Rao and another. … Petitioners And Superintendent of Police, Visakhapatnam (Rural), Visakhapatnam and others. … Respondents Counsel for the petitioners: Sri M.Viswanadham. Counsel for the respondents: AGP for Home. This Court made the following: ORDER:- This Writ Petition is filed for a Mandamus to declare the action of respondents 3 and 4 in harassing the petitioners by calling them to Police Station and make them to sit from morning to evening, apart from abusing and beating them, in connection with Crime No.6 of 2009 on the file of respondent No.4, as illegal and arbitrary. On 5-1-2009 petitioner No.1 and one Sri Bathula Ramesh (complainant in Crime No.6 of 2009) were going to Railway Station for boarding a train to Vijayawada in an auto, they were intercepted by certain persons wearing monkey caps, sprinkled chilly powder on them and the auto driver, beat them with iron rods and snatched away their suit cases containing about Rs.2.00 lakhs. The complainant lodged a complaint with respondent No.4, which was registered as Crime No.6 of 2009. The petitioners pleaded that after the said crime was registered, the complainant appeared to have informed the Police that he is suspecting involvement of the petitioners herein in the said incident. The petitioners alleged that on suspicion, they are being harassed by the Police by frequently summoning them to Police Station, abusing and beating them and making them to sit in the Police Station for long hours. At the hearing, the learned Assistant Government Pleader for Home submitted that since the petitioners’ involvement in the said crime is suspected, they are being summoned for the purpose of investigation. The crime was registered as far back as 6-1-2009. So far, FIR has not been altered. The petitioners do not figure as accused in the said Crime. In my opinion, mere suspicion shall not be a ground for the Police to harass the petitioners. Though more than one year had elapsed, till now the Police were unable to complete the investigation and file the charge sheet. I find no justification for the Police to keep the investigation pending for such a long time and interfering with the personal liberty of the petitioners merely on the ground of suspicion. The Writ Petition is, therefore, disposed of with the direction to respondent Nos.3 and 4 to complete the investigation and file appropriate charge sheet/report expeditiously. Unless the petitioners’ involvement in the said Crime is established and FIR is altered, the respondents shall not interfere with their personal liberty. ------------------------------------ C.V.NAGARJUNA REDDY,J Date:10-3-2010 MNR