Police-politician nexus: Supreme Court on Andhra police probe into murder case against MLC Ananta Udaya Bhaskar
The Supreme Court on Friday made scathing observations on the investigation into the 2022 murder case involving YSR Congress Party MLC Ananta Udaya Bhaskar also known as Anantha Babu.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant and Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi observed that there was a clear nexus between police and those in power and attempts have been made by the investigating agency to enable Bhaskar to get bail.
“This is a clear case of the nexus of Police and power...Police, investigating agencies have been hobnobbing with the accused and all attempts have been made to grant default bail under 167(2) CrPC to the appellant on a platter though High Court did not grant the same," the Court observed.
The Court proceeded to direct that the trial against Bhaskar should be completed by November 30.
The case concerns the death of Bhaskar’s former driver, Veedhi Subrahmanyam, a Dalit man, on May 19, 2022. Babu, an MLC from Kakinada district, was accused of pushing him during an argument, leading to his fall and death.
He was produced before the Special Mobile Judicial First Class Magistrate five days later. The then Kakinada Deputy Superintendent of Police, Ravindranath Babu, had told the media that the MLC confessed to the crime.
In July 2025, the Andhra Pradesh High Court declined to stay a lower court order directing reinvestigation. The special court for SC/ST cases later ordered that a supplementary chargesheet be filed within 90 days. The reinvestigation followed a decision of the Telugu Desam Party government in the State.
The Supreme Court had earlier granted Bhaskar interim bail.
The Court today noted that the Bhaskar has been enjoying interim bail from the last two years.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the State of Andhra Pradesh, informed the Court that a supplementary chargesheet has been filed.
“This shows laxity if not complicity with the state police with the accused exhibiting the grossest negligence in the matter of investigation of a heinous offence," the Court opined.
Senior Advocate S Nagamuthu appeared for Bhaskar.
After hearing the parties, the Court said it was necessary to strike a balance between right to liberty and right to fair trial.
Hence, it proceeded to lay down detailed directions with respect to the trial.
It requested the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court to entrust the trial to a fairly senior judicial officer. The issue of framing of charges must be decided before April 18. If any further investigation is required, it must be completed before March 31.
After framing of charges, the examination of evidence is to be concluded and the trial has to end before November 30.
"The proceedings will be monitored for compliance, and the trial judge is to be kept free from other assignments so the matter can be taken up on priority," the Bench added.