For nearly a year, the Andhra Pradesh coalition government has ignored the Constitution, democratic values, and court rulings. The government, alongside the state police, has been criticized for targeting YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders with false cases, illegal arrests, and baseless allegations. Courts, including the Supreme Court and Andhra Pradesh High Court, have repeatedly warned the coalition to stop these practices, yet the government continues its politically driven campaign, guided by what critics call a “Red Book Constitution” that prioritizes revenge over governance.
Supreme Court Condemns Liquor Case arrests
In a recent alleged liquor case, the Supreme Court strongly criticized the coalition for arresting people without evidence. The court focused on the cases of YSRCP leader Peddi Reddy Mithun Reddy and Govindappa Balaji, stressing that arrests harm personal freedom, dignity, and reputation. “Arrests must be based on solid reasons, not just because a case is filed,” the court said, urging police to act carefully. It ordered the High Court to review evidence and decide on Reddy’s bail request within four weeks, warning the state not to “muddy” the process further. The court made it clear that arrests should only happen when absolutely necessary.
YS Jagan’s transparent Liquor policy
Under former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, Andhra Pradesh enforced a transparent liquor policy. The government shut down 43,000 illegal liquor shops, closed permit rooms, and cut back on liquor sales to reduce addiction. This was a stark contrast to the earlier Chandrababu Naidu government, which reportedly caused a Rs. 6,500 crore loss to the state through questionable liquor policies. Evidence, including Naidu’s signatures, pointed to irregularities during his tenure. However, the coalition has created a false liquor scam narrative to shift blame and justify arrests of YSRCP leaders, despite no evidence of wrongdoing under YS Jagan’s rule.
High Court highlights police misconduct in Prem Kumar case
On March 25, 2025, the Andhra Pradesh High Court sharply criticized the police for wrongly arresting Prem Kumar, who had mocked the government through a satirical drama. The court was furious, saying, “Watching the police’s actions raises our blood pressure. How many mistakes must we point out?” It accused the police of inventing statements to justify arrests and failing to follow their own rules. The court also criticized magistrates for approving police requests without checking the facts, warning that such actions weaken the justice system. This case has drawn significant attention as an example of the coalition’s overreach and disregard for free expression.
False affidavits in the Varra case
On May 5, 2025, the High Court expressed outrage over police submitting false affidavits in the case of social media activist Varra Ravindra Reddy, who was illegally detained. CCTV footage confirmed Reddy was taken into custody on November 8, 2024, contradicting police claims. The court demanded an explanation, saying, “Are you lying to us? We will hold a final inquiry to settle this.” The incident highlighted the police’s attempts to mislead the judiciary.
Police and SIT overstep boundaries
On April 22, 2025, the High Court criticized senior police and Special Investigation Team (SIT) officials for ignoring legal standards and democratic principles. “What is happening in this state? If we let police act like this, we’ll all face trouble,” the court remarked. It stressed that personal freedom is a top priority and scolded SIT officials for acting as if they were above the law. The court pointed out that police repeatedly ignored its orders, undermining public trust.
Misuse of Legal Powers
On May 8, 2025, the High Court objected to the coalition’s use of BNS Section 111 against YSRCP’s social media team, including former in-charge Sajjala Bhargava Reddy. The court noted that this law requires a prior charge sheet, which was absent, making the cases invalid. On April 10, 2025, the court issued a contempt notice to a Sullurpeta inspector for wrongly applying Section 111 to treat social media posts as organized crime. “Do police think our orders don’t matter? This challenges our authority,” the court said, accusing the police of deliberately undermining justice. In a related case, police filed charges against Posani Krishna Murali on November 14, 2024, for allegedly insulting TTD Chairman and TV5 owner Bollineni Rajagopal Naidu. Murali appealed to the High Court, which criticized the police’s actions as part of the broader misuse of Section 111.
