Rajamahendravaram, April 25 (NationPress) — Anantha Babu, also known as Anantha Uday Bhaskar, a Member of the Andhra Pradesh Legislative Council (MLC) affiliated with the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), was arrested by police on Friday, April 25, outside a court in Rajamahendravaram in connection with the 2022 murder of Dalit youth and driver Veedhi Subrahmanyam. The arrest came amid high drama as the legislator exited the court following a hearing on a petition seeking cancellation of his bail. His wife, Lakshmi Durga, who is also a named accused in the murder case, was present alongside him at the time of the arrest.

Dramatic Arrest Outside Rajamahendravaram Court

A large contingent of police personnel had been deployed outside the court in anticipation of the MLC's appearance. Authorities had been actively searching for Anantha Babu after he allegedly went underground following accusations of violating bail conditions granted to him by the Supreme Court of India. To track him down, police had constituted five special teams, each comprising five Circle Inspectors and 10 Sub-Inspectors.

Following his arrest, authorities announced plans to transfer Anantha Babu to Kakinada, where he was expected to be produced before a competent court later the same day.

Witness Tampering and Criminal Intimidation Charges

A fresh First Information Report (FIR) was registered on April 20 at the Sarpavaram Police Station in Kakinada based on complaints filed by four key witnesses in the murder trial. The witnesses alleged that Anantha Babu had approached them with substantial monetary offers to retract their earlier statements in court.

When the witnesses reportedly refused to accept the bribes, they claimed they were subjected to death threats. Three of the four witnesses further alleged that they were forcibly confined inside an apartment by the MLC's associates and coerced into providing false testimony during the ongoing trial.

Based on these allegations, Anantha Babu was booked under charges of witness tampering and criminal intimidation under relevant provisions of Indian law.

Special Court Petition and Bail Cancellation Proceedings

Special Public Prosecutor Muppalla Subbarao filed a petition before the Rajahmundry Special Court seeking the immediate cancellation of the MLC's bail. The petition contended that by attempting to influence witnesses through bribes and threats, Anantha Babu had directly violated the conditions imposed by the Supreme Court at the time of granting him bail. The Special Court had adjourned the hearing to Friday, the same day the arrest was executed.

Background: The 2022 Murder of Veedhi Subrahmanyam

Veedhi Subrahmanyam, a 34-year-old Dalit driver who had previously worked for Anantha Babu, was found dead under suspicious circumstances in Kakinada on May 19, 2022. In a startling turn of events, the MLC himself had transported the body to the victim's parents' home at approximately 2 a.m. in his personal vehicle, claiming the death was the result of a road accident.

The victim's family immediately suspected foul play and refused to accept the body, triggering widespread protests by the victim's relatives and various Dalit rights organisations across the region. The case drew significant public attention given the MLC's political stature and the victim's Dalit identity, raising concerns about caste-based violence and the misuse of political power.

Anantha Babu was subsequently arrested, and the YSRCP suspended him from the party. However, with the investigating officer failing to file the charge sheet within the mandatory 90-day period, the MLC was released on default bail in December 2022.

Reinvestigation Ordered; TDP Government Revives Case

Following the TDP-led coalition government's assumption of power in June 2024, authorities decided to reinvestigate the case, signalling a political shift in how the matter would be pursued. The move was widely seen as part of the new administration's broader effort to revisit cases that critics alleged had been mishandled under the previous YSRCP regime.

In a significant legal development, the SC/ST Special Court ordered a reinvestigation into the case in July 2025, providing fresh momentum to the prosecution and renewed hope to the victim's family and Dalit advocacy groups who had long demanded justice.

This case highlights a deeply troubling pattern of witness intimidation in high-profile criminal trials involving sitting or former legislators in India — a systemic challenge that undermines the integrity of the justice system. The Supreme Court's bail conditions being allegedly violated by an elected representative raises urgent questions about accountability and the rule of law for those in positions of political power. As the trial proceeds in the Kakinada Special Court, all eyes will be on whether the reinvestigation yields a comprehensive charge sheet and whether the justice system can withstand political pressure in delivering a fair verdict for Veedhi Subrahmanyam's family.