Telangana High Court Rejects Plea of Murder Convict Who Jumped Parole for 40 Years

The Telangana High Court has dismissed a petition seeking the release of Sandela Veeranna, a life convict who jumped parole for more than four decades, secured a government teaching job, and even won a best teacher award before being rearrested. The court ordered that Veeranna remain incarcerated at Cherlapally central prison in Hyderabad to serve out his sentence.

Veeranna, now in his late 70s, was sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment in 1983 following a conviction for a murder committed in the late 1970s. Barely six months into his prison term, he was granted parole and subsequently disappeared. He was finally tracked down in May 2024 by a special task force of the Telangana prisons department with the assistance of the Mahabubabad police.

Veeranna’s wife, Sandela Charamma, a retired government employee, filed a petition challenging his continued incarceration and the denial of parole over the past three years on medical and compassionate grounds. She argued that resuming his sentence after such an extensive delay was arbitrary and that he had not received an opportunity to explain the alleged parole violation. She also submitted that their son is a permanent resident of the United Kingdom, leaving nobody to care for them while Veeranna suffers from deteriorating health conditions.

Dismissing the petition, Justice T Madhavi Devi strongly condemned Veeranna's actions. The judge noted that concealing his criminal background and conviction to enter government service demonstrated that he obtained the employment through deception.

During his four decades on the run, Veeranna lived in Danthalappaly in Mahabubabad district. He secured a government teaching position, won a best teacher award in 2004, and retired from service in 2013.

Opposing the plea, government pleader for Home Mahesh Raje submitted that Veeranna deliberately failed to surrender and that authorities had issued multiple communications to trace him. Raje also noted that comprehensive medical facilities and specialised treatments are available for inmates at Cherlapally central prison.

The court observed that the prison authorities had properly issued a show-cause notice and heard Veeranna before rejecting his parole plea. However, Justice Madhavi Devi also pulled up the prison administration for failing to trace him for over 40 years, noting the lapse reflected poorly on the department. The High Court directed authorities to formulate guidelines, build tracking systems, and establish special task forces to maintain strict vigilance over prisoners released on parole.