Police searched house without warrant, seized hard disks, mobile phones: Varavara Rao's wife

Police did not produce a warrant before searching their house and took away computer hard disks besides mobile phones, Hemalatha, wife of Telugu poet Varavara Rao who was arrested for alleged links with Maoists, alleged today.

She said about 20 police personnel, including two women officials, arrived yesterday.

"They did not produce any warrant. They seized computer hard disks and mobile phones. They also disconnected the intercom system that connects with other flats.

"He (Varavara Rao) was arrested several times earlier also and no case has been established against him... He wants to spread his ideology through the pen (writings), not the gun," Hemalatha told PTI.

She said they initially refused to allow the police to enter their flat at Gandhi Nagar, but they let them in after a local police official informed that they did not need a search or arrest warrant under the sections Rao was booked.

The Telegu poet was arrested by a police team from Pune.

The team also conducted searches at the residences of Rao's two daughters.

Hemalatha alleged that police even seized and took away her grandson's computer hard disk.

Rights activist and senior member of Telangana Civil Liberties Committee G Haragopal flayed Rao's arrest.

Rao was imprisoned on various charges earlier also. His health is a cause of concern now as he has become old, the activist said.

The Maharashtra Police yesterday raided the homes of prominent Left-wing activists in several states and arrested five of them as part of a probe into the violence between Dalits and upper caste Peshwas at Koregaon-Bhima village near Pune after an event called Elgar Parishad, or conclave, on December 31 last year.

Rao is a founder member of 'Virasam' (revolutionary writerss association).

Over 20 activists of CPI (ML) New Democracy members were taken into custody here when they staged a protest condemning the poet's arrest.

Police said they were later released.

The outfit demanded Rao's immediate release.