The Supreme Court has issued anticipatory bail to YSRCP leaders Devineni Avinash, Jogi Ramesh, and 20 others in connection with an attempt on the house of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu during the previous YSRCP government. The incident took place when Devineni Avinash and Jogi Ramesh led a protest against the remarks of TDP leaders, which escalated into an attempted attack on Naidu’s residence. But the police acted in time and stopped the situation from escalating.
Following the NDA government’s ascension to power, more than 20 people, including Avinash and Jogi Ramesh, were booked. Jogi Ramesh was an MLA at the time of the incident, and both leaders had been questioned several times. But earlier court orders had held back their arrest. With the lapse of those legal safeguards, they went to the Supreme Court in search of anticipatory bail. The top court, after hearing the case, granted bail but with stringent conditions, such as a prohibition on foreign travel and the requirement to cooperate with the police probe.
The Supreme Court was also dissatisfied with the long delay in the case, wondering why the investigation was stuck for three years. Although the court’s ruling brings short-term relief to the YSRCP leaders, the case is still a contentious issue in the political scene of Andhra Pradesh. As the state is experiencing intense political events, this verdict is likely to set off further debate and reactions.
