Supreme Court Denies Bail to Former MP Nandigam Suresh in Mariyamma Murder Case
The Supreme Court has denied bail to Nandigam Suresh, the former YSR Congress Party Member of Parliament, who is accused in the murder case of Dalit woman Mariyamma. The court stated that it would not intervene until the chargesheet is filed, emphasizing the need for further investigation before making a decision. The next hearing has been scheduled for January 7, following a request from Suresh’s legal team for additional time to present arguments.
The incident, which occurred on December 27, 2020, involved the brutal murder of Mariyamma. During yesterday’s hearing, senior advocates Kapil Sibal and Siddharth Luthra presented their respective arguments. Sibal, representing the accused, contended that Suresh had no direct involvement in the murder. He argued that the allegations against him were part of an attempt to incite unrest between two Dalit factions. Sibal also claimed that there was no substantial evidence to prove Suresh’s participation in the crime and suggested that the case was being used to falsely implicate him.
On the other hand, state counsel Siddharth Luthra countered by highlighting that Suresh’s name appeared multiple times in the FIR and that he had played a key role in orchestrating the violence. Luthra argued that Suresh had provided financial support and alcohol to his associates to incite riots, using deadly weapons. He also pointed out that the police had identified 36 individuals involved in the attack and noted that Suresh had several pending criminal cases, including charges of murder and attempted murder. Furthermore, Luthra claimed that Suresh had attempted to influence the investigation during his tenure as an MP.
After considering the arguments, the bench, comprising Justice Dipankar Datta and Justice Prashant Kumar Mishra, expressed reluctance to grant bail. The court raised questions about why Suresh was excluded from the FIR despite being named and speculated that his party’s influence might have played a role. It also noted the omission of Suresh’s previous criminal history in the bail petition. In response, Kapil Sibal requested more time to present a detailed argument, leading to the adjournment of the case to January 7.
As the legal proceedings continue, the denial of bail marks an important development in the high-profile case, with further hearings expected to shed light on the extent of Suresh’s involvement in the incident. The case remains under scrutiny as both legal teams prepare for the next phase of litigation.
