AP: CAs move HC challenging CID's notices

Vijayawada, April 18, 2023

The chartered accountants who received notices from the crime investigation department (CID) for condemning the arrest of auditor K Sravan in the Margadarsi Chit Funds case, moved the high court challenging the "illegal and arbitrary" notices.

P V Mallikharjuna Rao and Muppalla Subbarao filed the petition contending the CID notices under section 160 of CrPC. They stated in the affidavit that they participated in a round table meeting organised by AP professional forum on the 'legality on the arrest of chartered accountant'. The views expressed at the said round table meeting were reported in the media and based on those reports, the CID issued notices to them.

The CID wanted to ascertain the facts which are within their knowledge in which K Sravan was arrested, and statutory protections available to a chartered accountant from arrest.

The CID stated in the notices that to arrive at just conclusion as to the role of Sravan in the crime under investigation, they are summoning the petitioners. The petitioners argued that they only exercised their fundamental right guaranteed under Article 19 of the Constitution to assemble and to express their views.

They do not carry even an iota of prejudice against any political executive.

They sought relief from the high court in view of the unfortunate incidents reported in the media that in the guise of investigation the CID is resorting to custodial torture as reported in the case of Narasapur MP K Raghu Ramakrishna Raju and in case of other journalists and to declare the notices issued to them as illegal, arbitrary, whimsical and contrary to Article 19 of the Constitution.

[The Times of India]