The Supreme Court today sought the response of the Centre and the Andhra Pradesh government on a plea for judicial probe into the killings of top Maoist leader Cherukuri Rajkumar and journalist Hemchandra Pandey in an alleged fake encounter six months ago. The apex court issued notices to the Centre and and the state government in response to a petition filed by social activist Swami Agnivesh and Pandey’s widow Babita. It has sought replies from the two governements within six weeks.

Rajkumar alias Azad, a senior member of banned CPI (Maoist) Central Committee, and Pandey, who was alleged by the police to be a Maoist, were killed in an alleged fake encounter in July last year in Adilabad district of Andhra Pradesh.