Andhra MLC Anantha Babu's bail cancelled in Dalit driver murder case
Synopsis
An Andhra Pradesh MLC who was out on Supreme Court bail in a Dalit driver's murder case has had that bail cancelled after four witnesses accused him of offering bribes and issuing death threats to alter their testimony. The case, which dates back to a suspicious 2022 death in Kakinada, is now under reinvestigation ordered by the SC/ST Special Court.
Key Takeaways
A special court in Rajamahendravaram cancelled the bail of YSRCP MLC Anantha Babu on Wednesday in the murder case of Dalit driver Veedhi Subrahmanyam .
Subrahmanyam (34) was found dead in Kakinada on 19 May 2022 ; the MLC had transported the body to the victim's home claiming it was a road accident.
Four witnesses alleged Anantha Babu offered bribes and issued death threats to change their statements; three claimed they were forcibly detained by his followers.
The MLC was arrested on 24 April 2025 for witness tampering and criminal intimidation, and has been held in Rajamahendravaram Central Jail since.
The SC/ST Special Court ordered a reinvestigation in July 2025 after the TDP-led government took power in June 2024 .
A special court in Rajamahendravaram on Wednesday cancelled the bail of Anantha Babu (also known as Anantha Uday Bhaskar), a member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council belonging to the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), in the murder case of Dalit youth and driver Veedhi Subrahmanyam. The ruling comes weeks after the MLC was arrested for allegedly threatening key witnesses in the trial.
Background: The Murder and the Accused
Subrahmanyam (34), who worked as a driver for Anantha Babu, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Kakinada on 19 May 2022. The MLC had personally transported the body to the victim's parents' residence at around 2 am in his own car, claiming it was a road accident. The family suspected foul play, refused to accept the body, and the incident triggered protests by the victim's relatives and Dalit organisations across the region.
Anantha Babu was subsequently arrested. However, with the investigating officer failing to submit the chargesheet within the mandatory 90-day window, he was released on default bail in December 2022. The then-ruling YSRCP suspended him from the party following the arrest.
Witness Tampering Allegations
Four key witnesses in the murder case filed complaints at Sarpavaram Police Station in Kakinada on 20 April 2025, alleging that Anantha Babu had offered them substantial sums of money to change their statements. According to the complainants, when they refused the bribe, they were issued death threats. Three of the four witnesses alleged that they were forcibly detained in an apartment by the MLC's followers and pressured to retract their previous statements and provide false testimony during the trial.
A case was registered against the MLC for witness tampering and criminal intimidation. He was arrested on 24 April 2025 in Rajamahendravaram — in a scene described as high drama — when he emerged from a court after a hearing on a bail cancellation petition. He has since been lodged in Rajamahendravaram Central Jail.
Court's Decision
Special Public Prosecutor Muppalla Subbarao had filed a petition in the Rajahmundry Special Court seeking immediate cancellation of the MLC's bail, arguing that by attempting to influence witnesses and using threats, the accused had breached the conditions set by the Supreme Court when bail was originally granted. The special court on Wednesday upheld this argument and cancelled the bail.
Reinvestigation and Political Context
After the Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition government came to power in June 2024, it decided to reinvestigate the case. In July 2025, the SC/ST Special Court ordered a formal reinvestigation. The case has drawn sustained attention from Dalit rights groups, who have demanded accountability and a swift trial. With bail now cancelled and the MLC back in custody, the next phase of legal proceedings is expected to be closely watched by both advocacy groups and political observers in Andhra Pradesh.
Point of View
But the deeper story is systemic: a legislator accused of murder walked free on a default bail technicality, then allegedly used that freedom to tamper with witnesses. That sequence — from default bail to alleged intimidation — exposes a structural gap in how high-profile accused with political resources navigate the criminal justice system. The reinvestigation ordered under the new government also raises questions about whether the original probe was compromised, and whether the change in political power in Andhra Pradesh is driving judicial momentum that should have arrived much earlier.
NationPress
30 Jun 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why was Andhra MLC Anantha Babu's bail cancelled?
A special court in Rajamahendravaram cancelled Anantha Babu's bail after four key witnesses alleged he offered them money to change their statements and issued death threats when they refused. The court found that these actions breached the conditions under which the Supreme Court had granted him bail.
Who was Veedhi Subrahmanyam and how did he die?
Veedhi Subrahmanyam was a 34-year-old Dalit youth who worked as a driver for MLC Anantha Babu. He was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Kakinada on 19 May 2022. The MLC transported the body to the victim's family home at 2 am claiming it was a road accident, but the family suspected foul play and refused to accept the body.
How did Anantha Babu get bail in the first place?
The investigating officer failed to file a chargesheet within the mandatory 90-day period, entitling the accused to default bail, which was granted in December 2022. He was later granted bail by the Supreme Court, which set specific conditions he has now allegedly violated.
What is the current status of the case?
Anantha Babu is currently lodged in Rajamahendravaram Central Jail following his arrest on 24 April 2025. The SC/ST Special Court ordered a reinvestigation in July 2025, and the bail cancellation on Wednesday marks a further escalation of legal proceedings against him.
What role did the change in Andhra Pradesh government play?
After the TDP-led coalition came to power in June 2024, the new government decided to reinvestigate the case, which had stalled under the previous YSRCP administration. The SC/ST Special Court subsequently ordered a formal reinvestigation in July 2025.
