Naidu Granted Anticipatory Bail in Angallu Case

[Anta Assamey]

In a slight reprieve to TDP boss and former CM N. Chandrababu Naidu, the Andhra Pradesh High Court granted anticipatory bail to him in connection with the Angallu and Punganur riots case. The bail was granted after payment of Rs 1 lakh personal surety.

Naidu’s counsel and senior advocate Posani Venkateswarlu told the court that the ruling party activists hurled stones at his client’s convoy when Naidu’s security staff protected him. Venkateswarlu also submitted videos regarding the incident to the court. He also said that the YCP filed a complaint with the police after 4 days of the incident, and this proves that it is a false case. Naidu’s counsel also told the court that the TDP took out a rally to the irrigation projects only after seeking the required permission and that the YCP activists took to violence, in a pre-meditated manner. He also reminded the court that several other accused in the case were granted anticipatory bails and that the Supreme Court also upheld the orders.

Chandrababu Naidu was named as A1 at Mudiveedu police station and as A7 at Mulakalacheruvu police station, pertaining to the riots at the village that erupted during his visit to the Annamayya district on August 4.

Naidu and his party leaders reached the district to observe the progress of irrigation projects in Annamayya district when riots broke out after a local YCP leader Umapathy reached Angallu to give a memo to Naidu. After some time, the TDP cadre took to violence against the YCP men and this led to injuries to several of the ruling party activists. Further, the agitators also tried to attack the police.

According to the police, the TDP boss also made some derogatory remarks against Tamballapalle MLA P. Dwarakanatha Reddy, the local legislator and the younger brother of minister Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy.

After the incident, Umapathy complained to the police following which criminal cases were booked against Naidu as A1. Following the derogatory remarks against the police and inciting his party cadre to rioting, Naidu was booked as A7Based on a complaint at Mulakalacheruvu police station.

The Annamayya district police on August 9 registered criminal cases against Telugu Desam Party national president N. Chandrababu Naidu and named him as A1 (Accused 1) at Mudiveedu police station and as A7 at Mulakalacheruvu police station.