This order followed a petition filed by the TDP-led government in April 2025, seeking reinvestigation in the wake of allegations that key aspects of the case were overlooked.
Published Jul 23, 2025 | 8:09 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 23, 2025 | 8:09 PM
Murder (Representational image/iStockPhoto)
Synopsis: The TDP-led Andhra Pradesh government has reopened the 2022 murder case of Dalit youth Veedhi Subrahmanyam, allegedly killed by YSRCP MLC Anantha Babu. A special court permitted further investigation by an SIT, following claims of a botched earlier probe. The SIT will examine possible accomplices, review CCTV footage, and scrutinize the MLC’s communications and movements on the day of the incident.
The TDP-led NDA government in Andhra Pradesh has intensified its crackdown on leaders of the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), with fresh steps being taken to reopen sensitive cases.
In one such measure, the government has moved to revive the investigation into the murder of 24-year-old Dalit youth Veedhi Subrahmanyam, who was allegedly killed by YSRCP MLC Ananta Satya Udaya Bhaskar, popularly known as Anantha Babu, in Kakinada on 19 May 2022.
A Special Court for SC/ST cases in Rajamahendravaram, on Tuesday, 22 July, granted permission for further investigation into the case. The court directed the Special Investigation Team (SIT) to complete its probe and file a supplementary chargesheet within 90 days.
This order followed a petition filed by the TDP-led government in April 2025, seeking reinvestigation in the wake of allegations that key aspects of the case were overlooked.
The parents of the victim had earlier appealed to the present government, urging a thorough reinvestigation. They alleged that while Anantha Babu was named as the lone accused, several others were also involved in the crime.Acting on their plea, the government constituted an SIT and appointed senior advocate M Subba Rao to assist the prosecution.
The court heard arguments on the government’s request for reopening the case on 18 July and passed the order permitting further investigation on Tuesday.
Subrahmanyam had worked as a driver for Anantha Babu for around five years before quitting four months prior to his death. On the night of 19 May 2022, the MLC reportedly visited Subrahmanyam’s residence in Kakinada around 9:30 p.m. under the pretext of discussing some work and took him along in his vehicle.
In the early hours of 20 May, at around 2 a.m., Anantha Babu returned to Subrahmanyam’s home with the young man’s body lying in the rear seat of his car. The body bore multiple injuries.
The MLC told the family that Subrahmanyam had died in a road accident near Nagamalli Thota Junction. However, the victim’s relatives found the injuries suspicious and inconsistent with a typical accident, raising alarm and prompting a public outcry. Dalit organizations and the TDP which was in Opposition then, rallied in support of the family.
On 23 May 2022, Anantha Babu surrendered to the police and reportedly confessed to the crime. He was arrested, produced before a magistrate, and sent to 14 days of judicial custody at Rajahmundry Central Jail. The police registered a case under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (causing disappearance of evidence), and 34 (common intention) of the IPC, as well as relevant provisions of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989.
During interrogation, Anantha Babu told the police that the confrontation began over Subrahmanyam’s “bad habits,” specifically excessive drinking. He also claimed that the victim owed him ₹20,000 from a loan taken during his marriage. The argument allegedly turned physical, resulting in fatal head injuries to Subrahmanyam.
There were also reports suggesting that Subrahmanyam was privy to sensitive information regarding the MLC’s business dealings, including involvement in the coloured stones trade. Realising the gravity of the situation after the victim’s death, the MLC allegedly attempted to stage the incident as a road accident. He reportedly took the body to a dumping yard, inflicted further injuries using sticks to simulate an accident, and then brought the body back to the victim’s residence.
A post-mortem conducted at Kakinada Government General Hospital confirmed that the cause of death was internal bleeding and severe blunt force trauma — not injuries consistent with a vehicular accident.
The Supreme Court granted conditional bail to Anantha Babu on 16 December 2022, after spending six months in custody. His release sparked criticism, especially from Dalit groups and the victim’s family, who expressed concerns about possible witness tampering due to the MLC’s influence.
Despite the arrest, the subsequent investigation came under criticism, with Subrahmanyam’s parents — Nooka Ratnam and Satyanarayana — filing a writ petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, demanding a CBI probe.
They alleged that the local police had concealed the MLC’s criminal past and conducted a biased investigation. The High Court, however, dismissed the plea for a CBI inquiry in rulings delivered in January and December 2023, holding that the local police probe was adequate.
The YSRCP had suspended Anantha Babu from the party on 25 May, 2022, in the face of public backlash and following directions from then-Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to ensure an impartial probe.
In its petition seeking to reopen the case, the prosecution argued that the initial probe failed to determine whether others were involved. It pointed out that the severity and number of injuries could not have been caused by a single individual, nor could one person have singlehandedly lifted and placed the body in the back seat of a vehicle.
The SIT is also expected to investigate the MLC’s communications on the day of the murder, review CCTV footage to map the movement of both the accused and the victim on that night, and identify all individuals with whom the MLC interacted before and after the incident.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
