Andhra Pradesh High Court grants bail to accused involved in violent protests against renaming district after Dr. BR Ambedkar
Violent protests spread in the town of Amalapuram against the idea of naming the Konaseema district as BR Ambedkar Konaseema. Protesters attacked the residential properties of State minister P Viswarup and MLA Ponnada Satish.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court on Wednesday granted bail to seven persons accused of being part of the violent protest against renaming the Konaseema district as BR Ambedkar Konaseema on May 24.
A call was given by Konaseema Sadhana Committee for submitting their representations at the Collectorate office against the decision of the YS Jagan Mohan Reddy-led Andhra Pradesh government on May 20 to rename the district.
Allegedly, the gathered mob not only torched the residential properties of State minister P Viswarup and MLA Ponnada Satish but also pelted stones at police and damaged government buildings.
Pressing for Petitioners' bail before the high court, their counsel submitted that initially the petitioners’ names were not figured in the complaint and on the basis of the confession statements of the other accused, their names were arrayed as accused in the above crimes.
On the other hand, Special Assistant Public Prosecutor argued that the investigation is still pending and petitioners’ custody is important in this case as they were active participants in hatching up the plan through WhatsApp groups and other social media platforms.
The bench of Justice Ravi Cheemalapati granted bail to the accused persons noting that it was evident from the material on record that the mob, consisting of more than 1000 people, was not gathered with an intention of committing any offence and admittedly the mob was not armed with weapons.
"Till today, there is no material to show that the petitioners have damaged any property," Court stressed.
Court further noted that none of the complaints indicated about common intention or common object of committing an offence punishable under Section 307 IPC and no specific overt acts were attributed against the petitioners.
Therefore, in view of the fact that the other accused were already granted regular/anticipatory bail, Court granted the relief to the present petitioners too on their executing self-bond for Rs.50,000.
Court also directed the petitioners to drop a pin location on Google Maps to the Investigation Officer so that their location will be available to him.
Case Title: CRIMINAL PETITION Nos.5344, 5345, 5347, 5348, 5349, 5350 & 5351 OF 2022