Supreme Court rebukes 'Police-Politician Nexus' in murder probe against YSR Congress Party MLA Udaya Bhaskar
Court has directed for the trial against Bhaskar to be completed by November 30.
Supreme Court of India
The Supreme Court today pulled up the Andhra Pradesh Police over their investigation into the 2022 murder case involving YSR Congress Party MLC Ananta Udaya Bhaskar.
A Bench of Chief Justice of India Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice Vipul Pancholi observed that there was a clear nexus between police and those in power and said, “This is a clear case of the nexus of Police and power...Police, investigating agencies have been hobnobbing with the accused and all attempts have been made to grant default bail under 167(2) CrPC to the appellant on a platter though High Court did not grant the same," the Court observed.
The bench went on to direct that the trial against Bhaskar should be completed by November 30, 2026.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the State of Andhra Pradesh, informed the Court that a supplementary chargesheet has been filed. “This shows laxity if not complicity with the state police with the accused exhibiting the grossest negligence in the matter of investigation of a heinous offence," the Court opined.
Bhaskar, who is currently out on bail, also received a stern warning from the bench. The Supreme Court made it clear that any attempt to intimidate witnesses or interfere with the investigation would result in immediate cancellation of bail. The bench also took note of arguments presented by the victim’s counsel, who alleged that the earlier investigation was deliberately delayed and compromised.
YSRCP leader and Kakinada MLC Bhaskar, also known as Anantha Babu, is accused of murdering his driver Subrahmanyam and dumping the body at his residence in 2022. The case has gained momentum following a change in government, focusing on a swift trial.
He was arrested on charges of murder and atrocities under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (prevention of Atrocities) Act.
On September 26, 2022, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had dismissed Bhaskar's petition seeking default bail in the high profile murder case. The high court had said a chargesheet cannot be termed "incomplete" or "defective" simply because it was returned by a court for technical corrections or missing scientific reports. Later on December 12, 2022, the supreme court had granted Bhaskar interim bail, saying the accused cannot be kept in custody.
Today, the Chief Justice of India has asked the chief justice of the Andhra Pradesh high court to entrust the trial in the case to a senior judicial officer who can take up the matter at least once in a week. While asking the state police to conclude the investigation in the case by March 31, it asked the trial court to complete the issues relating to framing of charges against the accused MLC by April 18, 2026.
CJI Kant led bench has also restrained all the courts, including the high court, from passing any order which may lead to halting of trial and has asked the high court judge in charge of the district where the trial will go on to ensure that its procedural directions are followed.
Case Title: ANANTHA SATYA UDAYA BHASKARA RAO @ ANANTHA BABU Versus THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND ANR.
Bench: CJI Kant, Justice Bagchi and Justice Pancholi
Hearing Date: February 20, 2026