Hyderabad, Nov. 22 -- The Andhra Pradesh high court on Friday dismissed a habeas corpus petition seeking the whereabouts of Communist Party of India (Maoist) general secretary Thippiri Tirupati alias Devji and another central committee member Malla Raji Reddy alias Sangram, ruling that there is no prima facie evidence to show they are in police custody, people familiar with the matter said.

A division bench of the state high court, comprising Justice Manavendranath Roy and Justice Tuhin Kumar, observed that the material placed before the court did not establish that the two leaders were detained by the police.

The bench, however, clarified that if any concrete evidence emerges in the future, the petitioners are free to approach the cour...