Hardcore Maoist Sriramulu Srinivasulu, whose release had been demanded by abductors of Malkangiri district collector R.V. Krishna, and 12 others were acquitted in a dacoity case by a fast track court here on Wednesday.
Additional District Judge of the fast track court P.K. Karna acquitted Andhra Pradesh based rebel Srinivasulu and 12 others in a case involving dacoity in a house in MV-72 village in July, 2007.
The acquittal order was pronounced in view of lack of sufficient evidence after examination of 17 witnesses, Srinivasulu’s counsel R.P. Panaik said.
Sriramulu Srinivasulu, who is currently lodged in Malkangiri jail, would continue to be in prison as another case involving attack on police personnel was pending against him, he said.
Sriramulu Srinivasulu, who was among the Maoists whose release had been demanded by the abductors of Krishna and junior engineer Pabitra Majhi, had got bail in another case on February 22.
The Maoist leader, who was arrested in July 2007 from Bariguda forest in Kalimela area of Malkangiri dsitrict, happened to be former chief of Revolutionary Writers Association. He had earlier been acquitted in four cases by Malkangiri court.
