Retired IPS officer and former Andhra Pradesh intelligence chief A B Venkateswara Rao, who has launched a campaign against YSR Congress party president and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, has stepped up his activity to run down the party.
On Monday, ABV met the parents of Subrahmanyam, a driver allegedly murdered by YSRCP MLC Anantha Babu. The incident, which took place on May 20, 2022, had sparked widespread outrage across Andhra Pradesh.
Speaking to the media after his visit, ABV criticized the police for failing in their duty to investigate the Subrahmanyam murder case.
"In my 35 years of police service, I have never seen a more flawed and deficient investigation than this," he said.
He accused the authorities of attempting to let the case collapse intentionally.
“A Dalit youth was murdered, and there was no intent to ensure justice. Reports were prepared to deliberately weaken the case,” he said.
ABV said the FIR and charge sheet were inconsistent. There was no coherence between the mediators’ testimonies and the SP’s statements. The way the charge sheet is framed, the entire case looks set to collapse.
“This investigation will be remembered as a blot on the history of Andhra Pradesh police,” he said.
The retired IPS officer demanded a fresh investigation under court supervision by forming a special team. He said he was in Kakinada to lodge formal complaints with the district Collector and the Superintendent of Police (SP).
He also mentioned the hardships faced by Subrahmanyam’s family.
"The victim's family, who used to live in an apartment complex in Kakinada, are now living in fear. They’ve moved to a remote village and are doing odd household jobs in multiple homes just to survive. The government must ensure justice for this family," he said.