Published Aug 21, 2026 | 4:40 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 21, 2026 | 4:40 PM
Accused Lingamaneni Sanjush (Credit: X/TeluguScribe)
Synopsis: Sources suggest political pressure is being used to limit scrutiny of the 16 August accident in which Rajya Sabha MP Lingamaneni Ramesh’s son Sanjush allegedly ran over and killed 26-year-old Bharati Mukhi. A journalist who posted a video of the aftermath was coerced to take it down. Questions are also being raised over the four-day gap before the accused was publicly identified.
Latest developments increasingly point towards political influence being used to limit scrutiny of the 16 August road accident near Inorbit Mall in Hyderabad’s Madhapur, in which 26-year-old Bharati Mukhi was allegedly run over and killed by Lingamaneni Sanjush, son of Jana Sena Rajya Sabha MP Lingamaneni Ramesh.
A video showing the moments after the crash was shared on social media on Thursday, 20 August, but within hours, the channel was forced to make it private. Moreover, the four-day delay in publicising details of the case has also raised suspicions of behind-the-scenes pressure.
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Bharathi Mukhi was an employee at the Lifestyle store inside Inorbit Mall and was trying to cross the road when the accident occurred. The accident was reported widely at the time, but the accused’s identity was not publicised. As of 21 August, police have served only a notice to Sanjush.
Circle Inspector KV Subba Rao told South First that Sanjush has not yet been arrested.
“The case under Section 106(1) doesn’t necessitate arrest. The offence is also bailable. Hence, only a notice was served,” added Subba Rao.
Teja Vardhan, an advocate at the Telangana High Court, told South First that in any case under BNS where the punishment is less than seven years, arrest is an extraordinary measure.
“No arrest is usually made for a case under Section 106(1) BNS since punishment is less than 7 years. However, if the case was registered under Section 106(2), i.e., hit and run without reporting to the police, the punishment would be more than 7 years, and the police would have the power to arrest the accused,” he added.
Madhapur police station registered an FIR against Sanjush on the evening of 16 August, the day of the accident, under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. The section deals with death caused by a rash or negligent act. Yet his involvement became public only four days later, on 20 August.
Cyberabad police issued official communication on the accident and the FIR only after the news broke on social media and drew significant attention. This raised further questions about Ramesh’s exertion of influence, as a prominent politician and entrepreneur.
The police have, however, pushed back on allegations of lapses and said that the investigation is on track.
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The video, verified by South First, shows Sanjush attempting to drive away from the accident spot. At the same time, the victim, Bharthi Mukhi, lay in a pool of blood, surrounded by her colleague and passers-by. A few onlookers can be heard hurling abuses at Sanjush and eventually forcing him out of the vehicle.
Highly credible sources told South First that a journalist who runs a private social media news service was forced to make the video private on his YouTube channel. Contrary to earlier reports suggesting Madhapur police were behind the censorship, sources confirmed the orders were issued by a major media house the journalist is affiliated with.
Sources said the coercion came from MP Lingamaneni Ramesh, who reached out to the leadership of major Telugu news channels to restrict coverage of the incident involving his son. Ramesh’s alleged phone calls to media heads came on Thursday, 20 August, after the news of Sanjush’s involvement leaked to the public.
This is not the first case of an influential politician trying to clear his son’s name amid criminal cases. Only a few months ago, Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay was accused of running a media campaign against the minor survivor and her family, who filed a POCSO case against his son, Bandi Sai Bageerath.
