Published Oct 07, 2026 | 10:36 PM ⚊ Updated Oct 07, 2026 | 10:36 PM
Supreme court of India
In a major setback for YSRCP MLC Anantha Satya Udaya Bhaskar (Anantha Babu), the Supreme Court on Wednesday refused to grant bail to the MLC and dismissed a petition seeking an extension of the deadline to complete the trial in the high-profile murder case of his former driver, Veedi Subramanyam.
A three-judge bench comprising Chief Justice of India Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi, and Justice V. Mohana passed separate orders on the petitions connected to the case, maintaining that trial proceedings must continue without delay.
Taking up Anantha Babu’s bail petition, the apex court noted that trial proceedings in the lower court are progressing rapidly on a day-to-day basis in line with prior Supreme Court directives.
The bench observed that 37 witnesses have already been examined and only a few remain. It remarked that seeking bail on merits or under Article 21 at this advanced stage was premature and that approaching the Supreme Court directly was inappropriate.
When asked by the bench whether he preferred a formal dismissal or would rather move the High Court, counsel for Anantha Babu chose to withdraw the petition to approach the High Court instead, which the top court allowed.
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The bench also dismissed an interlocutory application filed by the prosecution seeking a six-month extension beyond the Supreme Court’s November 30 trial deadline.
Presenting their arguments, counsel for the prosecution stated that a supplementary chargesheet added over 30 new witnesses, leaving 47 witnesses left to examine, and that the rapid day-to-day trial schedule leaves insufficient time to prepare cross-examinations.
Counsel representing Anantha Babu strongly opposed the extension, arguing that the prosecution filed the application solely to delay the trial.
Addressing the anxiety over the November 30 deadline, Chief Justice Surya Kant clarified the proper legal procedure, stating, “If the trial cannot be completed within the stipulated timeline, the presiding officer of the trial court will personally write a letter seeking an extension, and time will certainly be granted then.”
The bench reiterated that it would not entertain an extension request from either the prosecution or the defense at this stage, leaving any timeline adjustments strictly to the trial court judge.
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The case stems from the suspicious death of Veedi Subramanyam, a car driver from Kakinada who died on the night of May 19, 2022, after leaving with MLC Anantha Babu.
CCTV footage captured the MLC delivering the victim’s body to his family’s residence in a car and threatening relatives. Although initial efforts were made to frame the death as a road accident, post-mortem findings and police investigations led to a murder charge, resulting in Anantha Babu’s arrest as the primary accused on May 23, 2022.
Departmental inquiries were later launched against SI, CI, and DSP-rank officers over irregularities in handling the investigation. Following the cancellation of his bail in 2026, Anantha Babu was re-arrested, and day-to-day trial proceedings remain underway at the Rajamahendravaram Special Court.
(Edited by Fayisa CA)
