Did Andhra HC Deny MLC's Request to Halt Special Court Order in Dalit Youth's Murder?

Amaravati, July 25 (NationPress) In a significant blow to YSR Congress MLC Ananta Uday Bhaskar, the Andhra Pradesh High Court on Friday declined to halt the orders issued by the Special Court for SC/ST cases, which recently permitted an extension of the investigation into the murder of his former driver and a Dalit youth. Uday Bhaskar had challenged the July 22 ruling of the special court that sanctioned further inquiry into this serious matter.

The High Court emphasized that the investigation can proceed. The special court mandated that a supplementary charge sheet in the case must be submitted within 90 days. This ruling facilitated a re-investigation initiated by the TDP-led NDA government.

YSRCP leader and Kakinada MLC Ananta Uday Bhaskar, often referred to as Ananta Babu, is accused of murdering his former driver, Veedhi Subrahmanyam, a Dalit, and subsequently disposing of his body at his residence in 2022.

The shocking incident reverberated throughout the state, leading to the suspension of Ananta Babu from the ruling YSR Congress party. Allegedly, during a confrontation, Uday Bhaskar pushed the victim, causing him to fall and succumb to his injuries on the night of May 19, 2022.

It is claimed that the MLC inflicted additional injuries to Subrahmanyam’s body to fabricate a narrative of a fatal road accident. However, the driver's family doubted his account and filed a complaint with the authorities.

Following his arrest, Uday Bhaskar was suspended from YSRCP. He stated that Subrahmanyam was intoxicated at the time and that he confronted him about his habits. In the ensuing struggle, he allegedly pushed the victim, who fell and suffered fatal head injuries.

The accused reportedly used sticks to inflict injuries on the body to mislead investigators into believing it was an accident. He later transported the body to Subrahmanyam’s home and informed his relatives that he had died in a road accident. Upon observing the injuries, the family was skeptical of his explanation, leading to a confrontation before the MLC departed, leaving the body in his vehicle.

In December 2022, due to the investigation officer's failure to file the charge sheet within the stipulated 90 days, Ananta Babu was released on default bail.

Following the TDP-led coalition's ascension to power last year, a re-investigation was ordered. In April of this year, the government mandated a new investigation, appointing Indian Police Service (IPS) officer and Kakinada DSP Manish Devraj Patil as the investigating officer.

The investigation officer subsequently sought permission from the special court for an expanded probe.