Following severe criticism from the Supreme Court over alleged police collusion in the 2022 murder of V Subrahmanyam, driver of YSR Congress party MLC Anantha Satya Udaya Bhaskar alias Ananta Babu, the Andhra Pradesh government has suspended four police officers for their role in the investigation.
The murder occurred on May 19, 2022. During a recent hearing, the Supreme Court expressed strong displeasure over the manner in which the case was investigated.
It observed that there appeared to have been attempts to facilitate default bail for the accused and termed the police conduct in such a heinous crime as “reprehensible.”
The Supreme Court questioned why disciplinary action had not yet been initiated against officers who allegedly mishandled the investigation and shielded the accused.
Acting on a report submitted by the Director General of Police, the government issued suspension orders late Saturday night against four officers: V. Bheemarao, then Kakinada DSP, currently Additional SP in Bhimavaram, Murali Krishna Reddy, DSP (currently in waiting), Akula Murali Krishna, former CI of Sarpavaram, now serving in Dr B.R. Ambedkar Konaseema district and N Satish Babu, then SI at Sarpavaram Police Station, now posted in Kakinada Port PS
The government directed that departmental proceedings be initiated immediately.
The suspensions will remain in force pending completion of the inquiry, which will be conducted under the supervision of the Principal Secretary (Home). A report is to be submitted within 15 days.