Setback for MLC Anantha Babu In Supreme Court
YSRCP MLC Anantha Babu and his wife Lakshmi Durga, the main accused in the murder of Dalit driver V. Subrahmanyam in Kakinada, suffered a setback in the Supreme Court.
New Delhi: MLC Anantha Babu and his wife Lakshmi Durga, the first and second accused in the murder of Dalit driver Veedhi Subrahmanyam in Kakinada, suffered a setback in the Supreme Court. The court dismissed Lakshmi Durga's plea seeking more time to complete the trial, and Anantha Babu withdrew his bail petition after the bench criticised him for bypassing the High Court.
On February 20 this year, the Supreme Court had directed that the trial be completed by November 30. Appearing for Lakshmi Durga, Senior Advocate Menaka Guruswamy told a bench of Chief Justice Surya Kant, Justice Joymalya Bagchi and Justice V. Mohan that the trial could not be concluded by then. She sought a six-month extension.
Justice Bagchi asked why the petitioner was showing such enthusiasm. He said the question of extending the deadline should be left to the prosecution, and asked whether the plea was meant to affect Anantha Babu's chances of bail. The bench said that if the trial was not completed in time, the trial judge or the prosecution could approach the Supreme Court. The Chief Justice said the court could not entertain such a request from the accused, and that it would consider the matter if the trial court sought more time.
Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for the State, said the trial was progressing swiftly. He rejected the petitioners' claim that charges had not been framed. "Charges were framed against both accused on April 17. The trial against both began from that day. The cross-examination of the key witnesses has been completed. Only 16 witnesses remain to be examined," he told the court.
The bench then turned to Anantha Babu's petition challenging the trial court's May 5 order refusing him bail. Luthra pointed out that Anantha Babu had come directly to the Supreme Court without first approaching the High Court. The Chief Justice expressed displeasure and asked the petitioner's counsel whether he wanted the petition dismissed or would go to the High Court.
Justice Bagchi observed that the case had progressed considerably at trial, so the bail application appeared premature. Justice Surya Kant remarked, "How can you bypass the High Court? It looks as though this petition was filed directly here for the convenience of the lawyer, not for the litigant."
Anantha Babu's counsel then sought permission to withdraw the petition so that he could approach the High Court. The Chief Justice allowed it and passed an order accordingly.