Chandrababu Naidu Not To Appear In Dharmabad Court

In spite of a non-bailable warrant (NBW) issued against the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, Chandrababu Naidu, in his involvement in an agitation in Dharmabad in 2010, it is being reported that the Chief Minister has put in place a two-pronged strategy to excuse himself from appearing before the court as ordered. According to Supreme Court lawyer and TDP Rajya Sabha member, K. Ravindra Kumar, Chandrababu Naidu has asked his team of legal advisors to file for a recall of the NBW, as well as to excuse him from appearing in court in person.

This NBW is the second that was filed by the court in Nanded district of Maharashtra demanding the police to produce the AP Chief Minister in the flesh on October 15. The earlier NBW had a deadline of September 21. In his place, he had sent his lawyers to present an appeal for the NBW to be recalled. However, the judicial magistrate refused to accept this petition, and subsequently issued the second NBW.

According to sources close to the Chief Minister, it is believed that he was counseled to make his point by leading the march of a procession of farmers to the court. This suggestion was made by a handful of ministers, while another group suggested that he not attempt to appear in court in person. After careful deliberation of both options, the Chief Minister is said to have selected his present course of action against a move that many in his party believe is a political ploy to distract from his achievements at the helm of the newly formed Andhra Pradesh state.