GUNTUR: In a dramatic escalation following the death of a 55-year-old man during a rally, former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has been booked for culpable homicide, with Guntur police confirming that the vehicle involved in the fatal accident was the one he was travelling in.
The case, initially considered a road mishap involving an unauthorised vehicle, took a serious turn after video evidence and eyewitness accounts revealed that the black SUV carrying Jagan had run over party worker Cheeli Singaiah.
Speaking to the media on Sunday, Guntur SP S Satish Kumar said that, alongside Jagan, police have named his personal assistant K Nageshwar Reddy, former MP YV Subba Reddy, former ministers Perni Venkateswara Rao (Nani) and Vidadala Rajini, and driver Ramana Reddy, who has been allegedly taken into custody, as they were allegedly present in the vehicle at the time of the incident.
The case, initially filed under Section 106(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) based on a complaint by the victim’s wife Cheeli Lurdhu Mary, has now been reclassified under Sections 105 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) and 49 (act endangering human life or personal safety of others).
The incident occurred on June 18 near the Etukuru bypass in Guntur district during a political rally from Tadepalli to Rentapalla.
More than 50 vehicles joined Jagan’s rally
According to the police, Singaiah tried to approach Jagan’s vehicle to throw flowers, slipped in the crowd, and fell under the front wheel. Though the vehicle paused briefly, it moved ahead, leaving the injured man behind. He was rushed to hospital by ASI Rajashekhar but was declared brought dead.
Initially, the police claimed a white Tata Safari, unauthorised and ahead of the convoy, was responsible. However, after reviewing CCTV footage, drone visuals, and accounts from witnesses, they confirmed that the SUV carrying Jagan was directly involved in the mishap.
The police had permitted only 14 vehicles for the rally, including the main convoy and support vehicles, but more than 50 joined, leading to confusion and serious crowd control failures. SP also noted that proper crowd management measures like circular ropes were not followed. He added that further legal action will be taken against the accused as per law.