The Supreme Court on Friday refused anticipatory bail to former Andhra Pradesh MLA and YSRCP leader Pinnelli Rama Krishna Reddy and his brother Pinnelli Venkatarami Reddy in a double murder case, sharply questioning how they managed to obtain statements recorded by the investigating officer before even a chargesheet was filed.
A Bench of Justices Vikram Nath and Sandeep Mehta expressed deep concern over the petitioners producing sensitive documents from the case diary. The court said the very manner in which the material was procured “shows conspiracy” and amounted to interference with the investigation.
The judges were categorical in their disapproval.
“Whatever way you have got it, it is totally unacceptable. This is interference in investigation. You go inside. How could you get hold of this?”
The Bench noted that even the chargesheet was yet to be filed, yet the petitioners had access to statements recorded during investigation—a situation the court said left it “amazed by the reach the accused has.”
When asked how the documents were obtained, senior advocate Siddharth Dave, appearing for one of the petitioners, claimed they were accessed “legitimately” from the court. The Bench was unconvinced.
“It can’t be. The court can never give the case diary,” the judges said.
Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for the State of Andhra Pradesh, echoed the court’s concern, saying he was “shocked” that such records had been secured by the accused.
The petitioners are accused of conspiring in the May 2025 murders of J. Venkateswarlu and J. Koteswara Rao in Palnadu district. The Andhra Pradesh High Court had earlier dismissed their anticipatory bail pleas, citing the gravity of the offence and the crucial stage of the investigation.
“Granting anticipatory bail could hinder the ongoing investigation,” the High Court had held.
The Supreme Court had, on September 4, granted them interim protection from arrest, directing that they be released on bail if apprehended. That interim relief was limited and subject to the court’s final decision.
After reviewing the latest submissions—including the questionable access to investigation materials—the Supreme Court dismissed both anticipatory bail petitions and directed the brothers to surrender within two weeks.
The petitioners argued that the case was motivated by political vendetta, but the court was unmoved, especially after noticing the extent of their knowledge of “intrinsic details” of the investigation.
Senior advocate Shoeb Alam appeared for the other petitioner.
The investigation in the double murder case continues under the supervision of the Andhra Pradesh police.
