ANANTAPUR: Subsequent to the incidents in the sub-jail at Reddypalli near here since Sunday afternoon, 13 of the 14 accused in the Paritala Ravindra murder case lodged in the jail, were shifted to two Hyderabad jails in the wee hours of Wednesday. Suri was not shifted due to legal problems.

In a swift development on Tuesday night the Chief Judicial Magistrate' Court issued orders for shifting the accused to Hyderabad, on a petition moved by the Jails Department. After DIG of Jails B. Samuel Johnson inspected the jail in the afternoon and held discussions with the jail staff, a meeting of judges was held here in the night to examine the legal procedures involved in shifting the accused.

Meets DIG

District and Sessions Judge S. Chinnaiah, CJM Virupakshi D. Gowda and Principal Civil Judge M. Venkataramana met the DIG of Jails and jail Superintendent Fazal Haque over the issue. As per the legal opinion at the meeting the CJM issued orders for shifting the accused to Hyderabad around 10 p.m. on Tuesday.

While Suri will stay in the jail here, three other accused P. Goverdhan Reddy, B. Ramaswamy and U. Anandkumar Reddy have already secured bail.

The DIG of Jails told mediapersons later that Moddu Sreenu, P. Narayana Reddy, V. Rekhamaiah, V. Hanumantha Reddy, G. Venkateswar Reddy and P. Damodar Reddy were shifted to Cherlapalli central prison. Other accused T. Konda Reddy, T. Peddi Reddy, M. Obi Reddy, Rammohan Reddy, V. Kondaiah, V. Sreenivasulu and B. Ranganayakulu were shifted to Chanchalguda jail.

Asked how the accused would be produced in the court, if required, the DIG said necessary arrangements were in place. Videoconference facility was established in the district jail last year and the two jails in Hyderabad already have the facility.

Staff relieved

Meanwhile, jail staff have expressed relief. The authorities have also imposed fresh restrictions on Suri's movements in the jail.

Sources stated Suri was not shifted as the subject was sub judice. Petitions filed by jail authorities in two courts seeking permission to shift the accused were dismissed earlier. A petition moved in the High Court by them was pending.

Besides, widow of Paritala Ravindra and Penukonda legislator Paritala Sunita also filed a petition in the Supreme Court seeking shifting of Suri out of Anantapur jail before the Penukonda by-election last year.

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