In a scathing rebuke, the Supreme Court of India on Friday expressed deep displeasure over the Andhra Pradesh police’s handling of the murder case against YSRCP MLC Anant Uday Bhasakar. The bench, led by Chief Justice Suryakant alongside Justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipul Pancholi, labeled the investigation as a blatant example of collusion between law enforcement and political powers.
The court highlighted how investigative agencies appeared to bend over backwards to grant default bail to the accused under Section 167(2) of the CrPC. ‘This is clearly a case of police and government collusion,’ the bench remarked, noting that despite these efforts, the High Court had denied such relief.
Pointing to Bhasakar’s two-year stint on interim bail, the justices emphasized the delicate balance between personal liberty and the right to a fair and timely trial. ‘This reflects either complicity or gross negligence by the state police in probing a heinous crime,’ they observed.
Directing the Chief Justice of the Andhra Pradesh High Court to assign the trial to a senior judicial officer, the apex court set stringent deadlines. Charges must be framed by April 18, 2026, with evidence examination to follow promptly. Any further probe should conclude by March 31, 2026, and the entire trial wrapped up by November 30, 2026.
The bench mandated that the trial judge be freed from other cases to prioritize this matter, prohibiting any stays on proceedings. This intervention underscores the judiciary’s resolve to prevent undue delays in high-profile cases tainted by allegations of influence.