Ex-Andhra minister arrested in hit-and-run case involving son

Former Andhra Pradesh minister and YSR Congress Party leader Seediri Appalaraju was arrested in Srikakulam district for allegedly tampering with evidence in a hit-and-run case involving his son. His arrest sparked tension as supporters alleged political vendetta by the NDA government.

Visakhapatnam: Police in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district arrested former minister and YSR Congress Party leader Seediri Appalaraju on Wednesday for allegedly tampering with evidence in a hit-and-run case involving his son

Police arrested the YSRCP leader from his residence in Kasibugga and shifted him to the local police station. Police were recording his statement.

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He is likely to be taken to a government hospital for medical examination before producing him to a magistrate.

Tension prevailed at Appalaraju’s house at the time of his arrest as a large number of his supporters had gathered there, alleging political vendetta and harassment by the NDA government.

The YSRCP leader is facing allegations of misleading investigating officers and tampering with evidence in a hit-and-run case involving his son, Arav Varma.

On July 10, a 45-year-old man, Danayya, died on the spot after a two-wheeler allegedly ridden by Arav hit him on the Old National Highway at Kasibugga.

Local police initially registered a case against another youngster, Siddardh, a friend of Arav. However, CCTV footage recovered from a nearby petrol station established that Arav was riding the vehicle before the crash. Following the revelation, police arrested both Arav Varma and Siddardh.

As Appalaraju allegedly used his influence to shield his son, his name was also included in the First Information Report (FIR). He is facing charges of exerting pressure on the victim’s family to withdraw the case and attempting to conceal evidence.

Meanwhile, former Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has condemned the arrest of Appalaraju. He alleged that Chandrababu Naidu’s government has stooped to the level of turning even a road accident into a weapon of political vendetta. 

“The 18-year-old son of former Minister and BC leader from North Andhra, Dr Seediri Appalaraju, was arrested and remanded not under provisions relating to a road accident, but on a murder charge, after being blamed for accidentally causing an accident while riding a motorcycle. Now, the arrest of his father, Appalaraju, makes it clear that the government’s objective is to politically persecute an entire YSRCP leader’s family,” Jagan said in a post on X.

“What exactly is Dr Seediri Appalaraju’s crime? Is it questioning the excesses of the Chandrababu government? Is it standing by the people of Palasa? Or is it earning respect as a doctor and serving the public? Is this the new legal system being implemented in Andhra Pradesh, where Chandrababu gets his political agenda published through the Yellow media and the police later convert it into a criminal case? Will the same standard be applied to every road accident involving TDP leaders, Ministers, their relatives or followers? If a family member of a TDP leader is involved in an accident, will that person and the other members of the family also be arrested in the same manner?” asked the YSRCP chief.

He alleged that these arrests reveal a conspiracy to implicate and silence leaders who question the government’s failures, corruption and anti-people decisions.

“Dr Seediri Appalaraju rose through his own merit from an ordinary fishermen’s family. He excelled in education, became a doctor, provided medical care and saved many lives. With the blessings of the people, he was elected as a YSRCP MLA and served them as a Minister. Attempting to portray such a person as a criminal through false charges is reprehensible. If his 18-year-old son is facing a charge that a shepherd unfortunately died in an accidental collision while he was riding a motorcycle, how can that become murder? How can the father be linked to an accident involving his son? Is this not a grave injustice?” asked Jagan.

“The YSRCP cannot be intimidated through arrests. The party will stand firmly by every leader and every worker who fights for the people. Mr Chandrababu Naidu, power is not permanent. The people will not tolerate the false cases, illegal arrests and abuse of authority taking place today. They will certainly teach your government a fitting lesson,” he added.