The Telangana High Court has refused to interfere with the denial of parole to Veeranna, while expressing concern over the failure of prison authorities to trace him for more than four decades.

High Court flags failure to trace convict for decades

Veeranna was sentenced to life imprisonment in 1983 after being convicted in a murder case. He was released on parole after spending only about six months in prison but did not return when the parole period ended.

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He remained in Mahabubabad district for more than four decades. During this period, he secured a government teaching job and worked without disclosing his criminal history. He received a best teacher award in 2004 and retired from government service in 2013.

Veeranna was finally traced in May 2024 by a special task force of the Telangana prisons department, with the help of Mahabubabad police, and lodged in Cherlapally central prison.

His wife, Sandela Charamma, challenged his continued incarceration and the decision to deny him parole for three years. She sought relief on medical and compassionate grounds.

Court says life sentence remains in force

During the hearing, the petitioner's counsel argued that Veeranna had been living in Mahabubabad district since 1983 and that the authorities had failed to trace him despite knowing his address. The counsel also challenged the decision to deny parole for three years.

Government pleader Mahesh Raje opposed the plea, saying prison authorities had repeatedly written to the Warangal Rural and Mahabubabad police to trace Veeranna after his parole expired. Authorities had searched for him at the address he had last provided and in nearby villages, he said.

After Veeranna was traced, the authorities issued him a show-cause notice. His explanation was found unsatisfactory and the authorities decided to deny him parole for three years.

Justice T Madhavi Devi dismissed the petition. The court held that Veeranna had deliberately avoided serving his sentence and that his life sentence had not been cancelled. It said he would have to undergo the remaining sentence.

Court seeks stronger system to track parolees

The High Court also pulled up the prison authorities over their failure to trace Veeranna for more than four decades.

Justice Madhavi Devi observed that the lapse reflected poorly on the prison administration. The court directed the authorities to frame guidelines and establish a system to track prisoners released on parole. It also called for special task forces to maintain strict vigilance over prisoners on parole.

The court rejected the argument that Veeranna had not been given an opportunity to explain the parole violation, noting that prison authorities had issued a show-cause notice and heard him before rejecting his request for parole.

Case background

Veeranna was sentenced to life imprisonment by a Warangal court in 1983 in a murder case. He was subsequently lodged in prison and released on parole later that year. He was required to return to prison after the parole period ended in March 1984 but did not surrender.

He subsequently joined government service as a teacher and remained in Mahabubabad district. In 2004, he received a best teacher award and retired in 2013. He was arrested in May 2024, more than four decades after he failed to return to prison.