Court moved for withdrawal of cases against Ganti, 4 others

While the petition seeking withdrawal of case against Prasadam was filed at SDJM`s court, Koraput, another petition for withdrawal of cases against Kandula Sirisa alias Padma, wife of top Maoist Rama Krishna, a CPI (Maoist) central committee member, Anderalu Iswari, Roja Mandangi alias Sarita and Gokul Kuldipia was submitted before the SDJM, Jeypore.

"As per the direction of the state home department, petitions for withdrawal of cases against Prasadam and four others were filed at Koraput and Jeypore courts respectively," Public Prosecutor Arun Kumar Padhi said.

The courts fixed June 20-21 for hearing of the cases of Prasad and four others respectively.

Release of the five Maoists was one of the conditions agreed upon in writing by state during talks with three Maoist-selected mediators to secure release of the abducted Malkangiri Collector R Vineel Krishna in February.

The state government had set June 7 deadline to mediators, who met Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik on May 24, to withdraw cases against five persons.

The five maoists were arrested last year on charge of sedition and other sections of IPC. While Prasadam was arrested from Vishakhapatanam, Padma and others were nabbed at Similiguda in Koraput district. Ganti is now lodged at Ongole jail in Andhra Pradesh. Padma and others are in Koraput jail.