File image of Supreme Court
| Photo Credit: Sushil Kumar Verma
The Supreme Court on Tuesday (February 25, 2025) allowed pre-arrest bail to former Minister and MLA Jogi Ramesh, who is accused of vandalising Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu’s Undavalli residence with other Yuvajana Shramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) members in 2021.
A Bench headed by Justice Sudhanshu Dhulia also granted anticipatory bail to YSRCP Vijayawada East coordinator Devineni Avinash.
Mr. Avinash is accused of ransacking NTR Bhavan, the central office of the ruling Telugu Desam Party, at Mangalagiri during the YSRCP regime in October 2021.
The apex court directed the petitioners to cooperate with the investigation, surrender their passports and not leave the country without informing the probe officer.
Appearing for Mr. Avinash, senior Advocate Kapil Sibal submitted that the alleged attack involved over 80 people and happened three years ago. The investigation began only after the government changed. He said the case was politically motivated. Contrary to the FIR registered, the injuries sustained by those involved in the melee were only minor in nature. Mr. Sibal said Mr. Avinash was not identified in the CCTV footage. Senior advocate Siddharth Dave appeared for Mr. Ramesh.
Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, for the State of Andhra Pradesh, said the accused were not cooperating with the probe and objected to the interim protection from arrest. The senior lawyer said Mr. Avinash had tried to leave the country.
Published – February 25, 2025 08:12 pm IST
