Lokesh gets HC summons in Film Nagar eatery case

HYDERABAD: Taking a serious view of non-appearance of GHMC former commissioner D Lokesh Kumar in the alleged illegal demolition of a restaurant at Film Nagar despite summons, Justice K Lalitha of the Telangana high court on Tuesday directed him to be present in court on Thursday and issued a stern warning of penal consequences if he failed to do so.
The judge was hearing a contempt case filed by K Nandu Kumar - an accused in the Poachgate case about alleged attempts by BJP to buy BRS MLAs - who had taken the land on lease from film producer Daggubati Suresh Babu and his brother Venkatesh. GHMC had demolished the 'additional structures', which the owners said were built without their permission.
In an earlier hearing, the judge had found that GHMC officials resorted to demolition without following principles of natural justice. The guidelines issued by the apex court mandated demolitions should not be taken up on holidays, which were ignored too.
The judge in the last hearing had issued form-1 notices to Lokesh and two other GHMC officials asking them to be physically present before the court.