'Unacceptable': Supreme Court Asks How Pinnelli Brothers Accessed Case Diary In TDP Workers' Murder Case; Refuses Anticipatory Bail

The Supreme Court today dismissed the anticipatory bail pleas filed by YSRCP leader and former MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, as well as his brother Pinnelli Venkatarami Reddy, in the double murder case of two Telegu Desam Party (TDP) activists.A bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta directed the Pinnelli brothers to surrender within 2 weeks, while expressing displeasure at their alleged obtaining of case diary material at ongoing stage through suspicious means, before filing of the chargesheet.At the outset of the hearing, counsel for the complainant raised a preliminary objection, saying that the petitioners (Pinnelli brothers) have filed their S.161 statements (of the witnesses) recorded before the Investigating Officer. "I want to raise a question as to how they have a copy of the S.161 statements? They have filed it as well before this Court!"In response, Justice Nath conveyed to Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave (for one of the petitioners), "Go inside...". Justice Mehta, on his part, added, "Interference in investigation. How could he get hold of these documents?"When Dave attempted to argue that the documents were received through the Court, Justice Mehta retorted, "No! Just can't be. Court will never give you the case diary. There's no chance". Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, for the State, also expressed concern, saying, "It is a problem, I am quite disturbed as to how he's got them. I am shocked"."Unacceptable, unacceptable. Whatever way you may have got it. But this is totally unacceptable. And it's a case of double murder also. This was handed to you on a platter", remarked Justice Mehta."The manner in which you have procured, that shows your conspiracy on the face of it!", Justice Mehta said. Questioning how the petitioner knew his implication was on the basis of a telephonic conversation, the judge said, "How do you know the intrinsic facts of the case diary? It's a case where your custodial investigation is necessary..."Dave attempted to explain that the telephonic conversation claim in the rejoinder was based on the state's counter-affidavit. He added that the subject telephonic conversations were just 56 seconds and 7 seconds long, in which time no conspiracy could be hatched. He further alleged that it was a case of political vendetta, however, the bench was not convinced."We are amazed by the reach the accused has! How did you get case diary at this stage?" Justice Mehta reiterated.When the bench directed dismissal of the pleas, Dave again insisted that it was a case of political vendetta. "Alright, then go in and come out", quipped Justice Nath in response. Though Senior Advocate Shoeb Alam argued that the other petitioner had a better case, and made arguments in that regard, the bench dismissed both the cases, saying it was not inclined to look at press statements.To recap, the Pinnelli brothers are accused in the double murder case of TDP activists Javishetti Venkateshwarlu and his brother Javisetti Koteswara Rao, who were killed while travelling on a motorbike in an Andhra Pradesh district. Seeking anticipatory bail, the Pinnelli brothers initially approached the High Court, but were denied relief. Aggrieved, they approached the Supreme Court.The Pinnelli brothers claimed that the double murders were a result of intra-party rivalry within the TDP and they were roped in merely due to political vendetta. It was alleged that ever since the TDP came to power, false and frivolous cases have been registered against YSRCP leaders.The petitioners further asserted that the case against them was based on hearsay and the essential ingredients of the charged sections ie Sections 61(2), 103(1) and 3(5) of the BNS were not met.On September 4, the top Court, while issuing notice on their pleas, granted them interim protection from arrest.Case Title: PINNELLI RAMA KRISHNA REDDY Versus THE STATE OF ANDHRA PRADESH AND ANR., SLP(Crl) No. 13622/2025 (and connected case)

'Unacceptable': Supreme Court Asks How Pinnelli Brothers Accessed Case Diary In TDP Workers' Murder Case; Refuses Anticipatory Bail

Debby Jain

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