The Supreme Court of India strongly criticised the Andhra Pradesh Police for its handling of the 2022 murder case involving YSRCP MLC Ananta Satya Udaya Bhaskar. The Court said the investigating authorities appeared to be “hobnobbing with the accused” and observed that “all efforts have been made to offer default bail to him on a platter.”
A Bench comprising Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice Vipul Pancholi heard Bhaskar’s appeal seeking bail. The Court had granted him interim bail in December 2022, and he has remained on interim bail since then.
Allegations of Delay and Connivance
During the hearing, the Bench expressed serious concern over the delay in completing the investigation. Nearly four years have passed since the alleged offence, yet the probe remains incomplete. The Court noted that the conduct of the investigating officers indicated “complete connivance” with the accused.
Bhaskar stands accused of murdering his driver, Veedhi Subramanyam, a Dalit youth, in May 2022. Counsel for the victim’s family told the Court that police filed the chargesheet only on the 92nd day after arrest. According to them, this delay aimed to enable the accused to seek default bail. Although the High Court denied such relief, the matter eventually reached the Supreme Court.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the State of Andhra Pradesh, submitted that the investigation gained momentum after the change of government in 2024. He suggested that the earlier regime may have influenced the probe because the accused’s party was then in power.
Luthra also stated that authorities returned the initial chargesheet because it lacked the Forensic Science Laboratory (FSL) report. The Chief Justice remarked, “We understand, they deliberately did not file the chargesheet.” Luthra added that the State has now filed a supplementary chargesheet and revived the investigation.
Court Seeks Accountability
The Bench questioned the State about disciplinary action against officers responsible for the defective investigation. The Chief Justice asked whether authorities had issued any show-cause notices.
“You have not completed the investigation in four years. What authority does the DGP have if he cannot control the Superintendent of Police or the Investigating Officer?” the Chief Justice asked.
Justice Bagchi emphasised that authorities must initiate disciplinary proceedings in such cases.
The Chief Justice also questioned why a bail matter remained pending before the Supreme Court for over four years. He observed that courts usually dispose of bail matters through brief orders without granting leave.
Timelines for Completion of Trial
While disposing of the matter, the Bench recorded that “police and investigating agencies have been hobnobbing with the accused” and that “all efforts have been made to offer default bail to him on a platter.”
The Court noted that the accused has enjoyed interim bail since December 2022 while the investigation remains incomplete. The Bench described this as “laxity, if not complicity,” in handling a serious offence.
To ensure speedy proceedings, the Court issued strict timelines:
- Further investigation must conclude by March 31.
- The trial court must frame charges by April 18.
- The prosecution must complete evidence by August 31.
- The trial must conclude by November 30, 2026.
The Court requested the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court to assign the case to a senior judicial officer. The trial court must hear the matter weekly. The High Court’s portfolio judge will monitor progress to ensure compliance with the schedule.
The Supreme Court also directed the High Court not to pass any interim order staying the trial.
After dictating the order, the Chief Justice observed that the matter reflected a clear “nexus between police and political power.”
