The Telangana High Court on Monday declined to pass a direction to stay the arrest of IT Grid (India) Private Limited director D Ashok who got embroiled in an alleged data theft case.

The court directed him to respond to the query of Telangana police who had already registered a criminal case with regard to the ‘Data breach’ case. Justice Shameem Akhtar, who heard the petition filed by Mr. Ashok to quash the FIR against his firm, directed the petitioner to first respond to the notice issued by Telangana police in the case.

Senior Counsel of Supreme Court Sidharth Luthra who appeared for the petitioner, submitted to the court that Mr. Ashok would cooperate with the police, but insisted that he should not be arrested by the police in the meantime. The judge asked the petitioner to comply with the notice first and posted the case to March 20 for further hearing. Telangana Public Prosecutor C Pratap Reddy presenting argument on behalf of the government, sought time to convey the stand of the police on the matter. When the senior counsel insisted for a stay on the arrest of the petitioner, the Public Prosecutor opposed giving any such relief to Mr. Ashok, stating that the latter should abide by the law.