Man who stabbed Jagan Mohan Reddy granted bail after 7 months

While arrangements are underway for YSRCP Chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy to take charge as the Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh following a landslide victory in the assembly polls, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) court in Vijayawada has granted bail to Srinivasa Rao, accused in an attack on the latter inside Vizag airport in October 2018.

The lawyer for the accused pleaded for bail on medical grounds, and the NIA court sanctioned it on several conditions.

Srinivasa was released from Rajahmundry Central Jail on Saturday morning, after the jail authorities received the orders late night on Friday. This comes eight months after the attack and subsequent arrest.

The attack, in a state which saw an intense political fight between Jagan's YSRCP and Chandrababu Naidu's TDP, kicked up a storm ahead of the elections, with both parties making reciprocal accusations. While TDP called it a 'staged' one to destabilise its government, the YSRCP called it a 'plot' to eliminate its leader.

After being arrested by the police, Srinivasa claimed that he was under threat and his lawyer had even approached the National Schedule Castes Commission (NSCC) alleging that he was being pressurised and harassed by investigating agencies.

The NSCC sought a report from Andhra Pradesh Director General of Police (DGP) and Chief Secretary (CS) on the allegations.

Srinivasa was working as a staff member in Fusion Restaurant, which was allegedly owned by a local TDP leader. At the time of his arrest, the police recovered a mobile phone, a knife, another instrument with a blade, and a 10-page handwritten letter. Srinivasa was booked under Section 307 (attempt to murder) of Indian Penal Code.

After Jagan reached out to the High Court in Hyderabad and Union Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) seeking a 'third party investigation', the NIA was tasked with the responsibility by MHA.

Meanwhile, Andhra Pradesh CMO security wing officials have attached a new security cover for Jagan Reddy, which includes high security vehicles and increase in number of bodyguards.