The Supreme Court granted anticipatory bail to YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Vijayawada East coordinator Devineni Avinash.

This comes after the Andhra Pradesh High Court denied his anticipatory bail in connection with allegations of ransacking the NTR Bhavan, the central office of the ruling Telugu Desam Party, in Mangalagiri during the YSRCP regime in October 2021.

Avinash has been under interim protection since September last year. He faces charges under multiple sections of the Indian Penal Code, 1860, including Sections 147, 148, 452, 427, 323, 506, and 324 read with 149, as well as Sections 326, 307, 450, and 380 read with 109 and 120B.

A bench comprising Justices Sudhanshu Dhulia and Manmohan also granted anticipatory bail to former minister and MLA Jogi Ramesh in connection with the alleged vandalism at Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu's Undavalli residence in 2021, along with other YSRCP members. Ramesh had been under interim protection. 

He faces charges under Sections 143, 324, 506, 188, 269, and 270 read with 149 of the Indian Penal Code, 1860. On September 4, the Andhra Pradesh High Court had denied anticipatory bail to all YSRCP leaders, including Ramesh.

The Court directed the petitioners to cooperate with the investigation, warning that any non-cooperation would lead to the cancellation of their anticipatory bail. Additionally, the Court instructed them to surrender their passports and prohibited them from leaving the country without informing the investigating officer.

Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal, appearing for Avinash, argued before the Court that fresh investigations were initiated three years after the alleged attack involving 88 people, coinciding with the change in the ruling government. He contended that the injuries sustained by the complainants were minor, contrary to the claims made in the FIR. Sibal further pointed out that Avinash was not identified in the CCTV footage presented as evidence. 

On the other hand, Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, representing the State of Andhra Pradesh, strongly opposed the plea. He asserted that despite being granted interim protection by the Court, the accused had not been cooperating with the investigation and had failed to provide details of their mobile phones.

It was further argued that Avinash had attempted to leave the country. However, Senior Advocate Kapil Sibal clarified that he had only traveled within India and failed to inform the Court due to a lack of awareness. 

Additionally, brief arguments were presented by Senior Advocate Siddhartha Dave on behalf of Jogi Ramesh. 

The anticipatory bail order also extends to other accused individuals, including Nandepu Jagadeesh, Manyam Jagadish, Gadela, and others.