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The Court observed that the investigating agency had made efforts to allow Bhaskar to obtain bail.
The investigation into the 2022 murder case involving Ananta Udaya Bhaskar, better known as Anantha Babu, an MLC for the YSR Congress Party, was harshly criticized by the Supreme Court on Friday.
A bench consisting of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justices Joymalya Bagchi, and Vipul Pancholi noted that attempts had been made by the investigating agency to allow Bhaskar to be granted bail, and that there was a blatant connection between the police and the powerful.
"Police and investigating agencies have been scheming with the accused, and every effort has been made to grant default bail under 167(2) CrPC to the appellant on a platter, but the High Court did not grant the same," the Court noted, highlighting the obvious connection between police and power.
The trial against Bhaskar must be finished by November 30th, the court ordered.
The lawsuit relates to the May 19, 2022, death of Veedhi Subrahmanyam, a Dalit man who was Bhaskar's previous driver. He was accused of being shoved by Babu, an MLC from the Kakinada district, during a dispute, which caused him to fall and die.
Five days later, he appeared before the Special Mobile Judicial First Class Magistrate. The media was informed by Ravindranath Babu, the Kakinada Deputy Superintendent of Police at the time, that the MLC had admitted to the crime.
A lower court ruling ordering reinvestigation was denied by the Andhra Pradesh High Court in July 2025. Later, the SC/ST special court mandated that a supplemental chargesheet be submitted within ninety days. The Telugu Desam Party government in the state made the decision to conduct the reinvestigation.
Bhaskar had previously been granted interim release by the Supreme Court.
The Bhaskar has been on temporary bail for the past two years, the court observed today.
Speaking on behalf of the State of Andhra Pradesh, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra told the court that a supplemental chargesheet had been submitted.
According to the Court, "the accused exhibited the grossest negligence in the matter of investigation of a heinous offence, demonstrating laxity, if not complicity, with the state police."
S Nagamuthu, a senior advocate, represented Bhaskar.
Following the parties' hearing, the Court declared that a balance between the right to liberty and the right to a fair trial was required.
As a result, it went forward and established comprehensive guidelines about the study.
It asked the Andhra Pradesh High Court's Chief Justice to assign the trial to a reasonably senior judge. Before April 18, a decision must be made about the framing of charges. Any additional research that is necessary has to be finished by March 31.
The trial must conclude by November 30th following the formulation of charges and the conclusion of the evidence examination.The Bench further stated, "The trial judge will be kept free from other assignments so the matter can be taken up on priority, and the proceedings will be monitored for compliance."
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