New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Friday declined to grant bail to former YSR Congress MP Nandigam Suresh, an accused in the Dalit woman Mariamma’s murder case. The court stated it would not interfere until the chargesheet in the case is filed. Following a request from Suresh’s counsel for more time to present arguments, the matter was adjourned to January 7, 2024.
The murder of Mariamma occurred on December 27, 2020. During the bail hearing, senior advocate Kapil Sibal, representing Suresh, argued that his client had no involvement in the crime. Sibal claimed the allegations of inciting clashes between Dalit factions were unfounded and lacked direct evidence. He further asserted that the case was a deliberate attempt to implicate Suresh falsely.
Prosecution Highlights Evidence
Opposing the bail plea, senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the Andhra Pradesh government, pointed out that Suresh’s name appeared six times in the FIR. He alleged that Suresh was the mastermind behind the violence, providing money, liquor, and weapons to instigate his followers into attacking the victim. Luthra stated that the police had identified 36 individuals involved in the assault and highlighted that Suresh faced nine pending cases, including murder and attempted murder. He also accused Suresh of influencing the investigation while serving as an MP.
Court Observations and Decision
A bench comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra expressed reservations about granting bail. They questioned why Suresh’s name was excluded from the FIR despite the evidence and suggested political influence due to his party’s rule. The court also raised concerns over the omission of Suresh’s previous criminal cases in the bail petition.
In response, Sibal requested additional time to present a detailed argument. The court agreed to adjourn the hearing to January 7, 2024, while refusing bail to the accused.
