Hyderabad, October 4, 2025 | Justice Surepalli Nanda of the Telangana High Court has set aside the order removing forest range officer V. Srinivasa Rao from service. The officer was earlier accused of misusing government money and temporarily diverting ₹43.53 lakh.
Rao challenged the removal order issued by the Chief Conservator of Forests (CCF) in May 2023, calling it arbitrary and illegal. He said he opened a bank account in his official designation to get higher interest rates for government
funds, not for personal gain.
Justice Nanda observed that the government imposed the penalty of dismissal without holding a proper inquiry. The inquiry officer had given findings without examining key witnesses, which violated the principles of natural justice.
The court ruled that the removal order was illegal and directed that the officer be reinstated with full service benefits.
However, the judge clarified that authorities may proceed again, but only by following proper legal procedures and ensuring fair inquiry.
Accepting Additional Documents Not Prejudicial: HC
Justice K. Sujana of the Telangana High Court ruled that allowing additional documents in a criminal trial does not harm the accused because the accused can cross-examine witnesses. The judge dismissed petitions by E. Raju Yadav, who had objected to allowing certain bank statements and cheque copies as evidence.
The court said the trial court acted correctly and that the complainant remains responsible for proving the documents’ contents.
24-Year-Old Food Adulteration Case Quashed
Justice Juvvadi Sridevi quashed criminal proceedings against Garre Satyanarayana, a groundnut oil supplier, in an adulteration case from 2001. The court noted long delays in prosecution and that the sample had passed its shelf life, making re-analysis meaningless.
The judge said continuing the case would be an abuse of the legal process because the supplier had sold sealed packets received from the manufacturer.

