HC directs ex-minister to return emoluments for faking caste

Justice P Naveen Rao on Monday had directed the Andhra Pradesh Assembly Secretary to recover all the emoluments paid to former Forest Minister during his tenure as MLA from Nagur Constituency in Vizianagaram district from 1999-2004. The Judge pronounced the order after hearing a petition filed by Nimmaka Jaya Raju challenging that Vijayarama Raju is a Kashtriya by caste but not ST. Petitioner's counsel informed the court that it had earlier heard an election petition and held that Vijayarama Raju is not an ST but he actually belongs to the Kashtriya community.

The Court also declared that the former Minister contesting from Nagur, a constituency reserved for STs, was wrong. The Supreme court also upheld the High Court order on caste status of Raju, the counsel said. Though the former Minister claimed that he belongs to Konda Dora Community and falls under ST category, the Apex Court and the High Court had declared false, he added.