In a fresh legal setback for Andhra Pradesh’s YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) senior leader and former minister Ambati Rambabu, a Guntur special judicial magistrate has remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody until February 22. This development comes amid his ongoing detention in a prior case involving alleged derogatory remarks against Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu.
Rambabu, currently lodged in Rajamundri Central Jail, was produced before the court in Guntur on Monday. The case stems from an incident reported in November 2024, where he and his supporters allegedly organized an unauthorized rally, threatened police personnel on duty, and disrupted public order.
According to police FIR details, on November 12, 2024, Guntur police registered charges under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) including those related to assault on public servants, criminal intimidation, wrongful restraint, and unlawful assembly. The rally, held without prior permission, reportedly caused severe traffic jams and inconvenienced residents.
Eyewitness accounts and police statements claim that when officers attempted to disperse the crowd, Rambabu’s group hurled threats and obstructed duty execution. This isn’t the first such instance; Rambabu has faced similar accusations during multiple YSRCP protests against the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) government.
Rambabu’s legal troubles escalated last month on January 31, when he was arrested from his residence in Guntur district over inflammatory comments targeting Naidu. The arrest triggered chaotic scenes, with TDP activists allegedly vandalizing his home and vehicles in retaliation.
Additional charges in the earlier case invoke BNS sections 126(2), 132, 196(1), 352, 351(2), 292, and 3(5), covering obstruction of public servants, criminal threats, abusive language, and defamation. Post-court appearance, he was shifted to Rajamundri jail.
As opposition voices intensify criticism of the TDP-led administration, Rambabu’s dual custody highlights deepening political tensions in Andhra Pradesh. Legal experts anticipate further hearings that could shape YSRCP’s strategy ahead of future elections. The party maintains these arrests are politically motivated to silence dissent.