HYDERABAD: Alarmed by a large number of names of politicians cropping up in connection with the passport scam, Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy has cautioned senior police officials to act only against concrete evidence or else the image of innocent persons will be unnecessarily tarnished.

Dr. Reddy left the instruction at a meeting with them and Home Minister K. Jana Reddy to review the law and order situation in the State on Friday.

Officials informed Dr. Reddy that the police were gathering complete details to establish the complicity of politicians before fixing cases on them.

Dr. Reddy enquired with the officials the latest position and the action taken in the scam. He told them firmly that the State Government would not hesitate to take stringent action against anyone who was involved in the scam. Regarding the fake encounter in Gujarat that had a backlash in Andhra Pradesh, Dr. Reddy wanted to know about the involvement of the State police. The officials informed him that the Government could take action if the role of the force came to light in the information furnished by its Gujarat counterpart.

CBI probe

Dr. Reddy said, if necessary, the Government would seek a Central Bureau of Investigation probe or welcome any other type of inquiry. The Government would not hesitate to take action against anyone found guilty.

He asked the departments concerned to take steps to immediately clear the Travel and Dearness Allowances due to police. He wanted more integrated housing complexes in the State Capital to strengthen the security of Ministers, IPS officers and senior officers.

Present at the meeting were Chief Secretary J. Harinarayan, Director-General of Police M.A. Basith, Principal Secretary (Home) P.V. Naidu, Additional Director-General of Police (Intelligence) K. Aravind Rao, Hyderabad Police Commissioner Balwinder Singh, and Principal Secretary (Protocol) C.R. Biswal.

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