YS Sharmila, the president of the Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee and sister of Andhra Pradesh chief minister Jagan Mohan Reddy, expressed intense satisfaction with the Supreme Court's decision to stay an ex-parte injunction order issued by a district court in Andhra Pradesh. This order had previously restrained her and others from speaking against the YSR Congress Party and Jagan Mohan Reddy regarding the murder of YS Vivekananda Reddy.
Reacting to the Supreme Court's decision, Sharmila tweeted, "The Supreme Court stayed the injunction in the Vivekananda Reddy murder case yesterday, dealing a massive blow to the malicious intentions of the perpetrators. This stay is a rebuke to those who use power and malice to orchestrate such petty conspiracies. Yesterday's decision proved that justice will prevail in the eternal battle of righteousness. This success marks only the first step. In the coming days, we will intensify our fight for justice for Vivekananda Reddy's family. Ultimately, we will show that victory belongs to truth and justice."
On Friday, the Supreme Court of India stayed the ex-parte injunction order issued by the Kadapa District Court. This injunction had prevented leaders of the Opposition NDA, including the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), Jana Sena Party (JSP), BJP, and the Congress, from making derogatory comments against Andhra Pradesh Jagan Mohan Reddy and the YSR Congress Party's Kadapa MP and candidate YS Avinash Reddy regarding the murder case of YS Vivekananda Reddy, Jagan's uncle.
A bench comprising Justices BR Gavai and Sandeep Mehta noted that the district court's restraint order had been issued without allowing Sharmila and others to be heard, infringing on their freedom of speech and expression. The bench stated, "It could thus be seen that the learned district judge, even without providing an opportunity to be heard to the defendants, has passed an order of injunction which has severe ramifications. In effect, the injunction curtails the defendants' right to freedom of speech and expression."
Senior advocate Gaurav Aggarwal, representing Sharmila, informed the Court that contempt petitions had been filed against her for allegedly violating the injunction order. He cited a recent Supreme Court judgment in the Bloomberg case, advising trial judges not to routinely issue pre-trial injunctions that restrain freedom of speech and expression.
On April 16 of this year, the Kadapa district court issued an ex-parte injunction that directed several Opposition leaders, including YS Sharmila, TDP national president N Chandrababu Naidu, TDP national general secretary Nara Lokesh, state BJP chief Purandeswari, and JSP president Pawan Kalyan, to refrain from making defamatory comments against YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and YS Avinash Reddy. The injunction specifically ordered them to stop alleging that Avinash had "killed" his uncle Vivekananda Reddy and that Jagan was "shielding" him.
Kadapa mayor and YSRCP leader K Suresh Babu filed the plea that led to the injunction, claiming that the allegations by the Opposition leaders were "irreversibly" damaging the political and personal reputation of the YSRCP leaders, particularly during the ongoing election campaign. Judge G Sridevi stated, "It was prima facie evident that the respondents made scurrilous and defamatory attacks on Mr Jagan and Mr Avinash Reddy, unmindful of the fact that every accused in a criminal case was presumed to be innocent until proven guilty. Besides, it was to be noted that Mr Jagan was never arrayed as an accused in the pending case."
She also mandated that the respondents remove the objectionable remarks from all media platforms, refrain from making unverified statements, maintain decent levels of public discourse, and strictly adhere to the Model Code of Conduct (MCC).
The murder case of YS Vivekananda Reddy has been a significant issue in Andhra Pradesh politics since March 2019, just before the synchronized Lok Sabha and Assembly elections. Vivekananda Reddy, who was then the Kadapa MP, was found dead under mysterious circumstances at his house in Pulivendula. Initially, his death was believed to be due to a heart attack. However, the then-TDP government later formed a Special Investigation Team (SIT) to investigate the case, which was subsequently taken over by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The CBI has since filed a chargesheet and a supplementary chargesheet, naming Avinash Reddy as an accused.
The political controversy surrounding this case escalated further when the Supreme Court transferred its trial to a special CBI court in Hyderabad in November 2022. As Andhra Pradesh prepares for simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly polls on May 13, the Vivekananda Reddy murder case has once again become a contentious topic of debate.
Leading up to the elections, both the NDA and Congress have utilised the Vivekananda Reddy murder case to criticise the Jagan government. Sharmila, contesting the Kadapa seat as the Congress candidate, has been vocal about her accusations, campaigning alongside her cousin Sunitha, Vivekananda Reddy's daughter, and accusing Jagan of "protecting" Avinash.
The Congress party has claimed that the YSRCP's approach to the Court was a sign of their fear and desire to hide the truth. "Why would anyone go to Court if they are not involved? The case must be expedited, and the culprits must be brought to book as soon as possible," said a party leader from Kadapa.
AP Congress media chairman and ex-MP Marreddy Tulasi Reddy commented, "The matter is a topic of discussion in almost every household as the YSRCP had raised it ahead of the 2019 polls. By going to Court now, they have nothing to gain."
Similarly, the TDP has used the murder case as a central theme in their campaign against Jagan, running an extensive social media campaign targeting him and his party. TDP leaders, including national president N Chandrababu Naidu and national general secretary Nara Lokesh, have not shied away from making strong statements regarding the case.
The Supreme Court's stay on the Kadapa district court's injunction has significant implications for the political discourse in Andhra Pradesh. It reaffirms the importance of freedom of speech and expression, particularly during elections. It highlights the need for careful judicial consideration before issuing orders that may infringe on these fundamental rights.
The Vivekananda Reddy murder case continues to be a critical issue in Andhra Pradesh's political landscape, influencing election campaigns and public opinion. As the trial progresses in the special CBI court in Hyderabad, the quest for justice remains a central theme for all parties involved. The Supreme Court's recent decision marks a crucial moment in this ongoing legal and political saga, with far-reaching consequences for the future of the state's political dynamics.
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