The alleged illegal arrest and harassment of Mumbai-based actress Kadambari Jethwani during the YSR Congress party government in Andhra Pradesh in 2024 continues to haunt senior Indian Police Service officer Vishal Gunni.
The state high court has stayed the implementation of an earlier order issued by the Central Administrative Tribunal (CAT) that had revoked his suspension.
The high court observed that the matter requires a deeper examination and posted the next hearing to August 29.
A division bench comprising Justice Cheekati Manavendranath Roy and Justice Tuhin Kumar delivered the interim order while hearing petitions filed by the state government challenging the CAT verdict. Following the high court order, the IPS officer continues to be under suspension.
Vishal Gunni had been suspended by the Andhra Pradesh government in connection with the illegal arrest of Mumbai-based actress Kadambari Jethwani, abuse of official position, and other administrative irregularities.
Challenging the suspension, the IPS officer approached the CAT, which in August last year ruled that the suspension was not legally sustainable.
Subsequently, the state government, represented by the chief secretary and the Director General of Police (DGP), moved the high court in October challenging the CAT order.
During Tuesday’s hearing, Advocate General Dammalapati Srinivas argued on behalf of the state government, while senior counsel Avinash Desai represented Vishal Gunni.
After hearing arguments from both sides, the bench stated that the case involved issues warranting detailed scrutiny and therefore suspended the implementation of the CAT order until further hearing. The case has been adjourned to a later date in August.
