Former Macharla YSR Congress MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy has received significant relief as the Andhra Pradesh High Court granted him conditional bail in three cases, including the destruction of an EVM. Ramakrishna Reddy was arrested by police on June 26 for assaulting a TDP agent and a CI, and for the destruction of an EVM during the elections. He has been held in Nellore Central Jail for nearly two months.
Conditions Imposed by the Court:
– Surrender passport to the court.
– Appear before the magistrate and SHOs every week.
– Do not leave the country without permission.
It appears that police are preparing to take further action against Ramakrishna Reddy. There is a possibility of invoking the Prevention Detention Act (PD Act) against him. Local rumors suggest that there is significant interest in his potential release on bail, prompting a large gathering of YSR Congress workers and supporters at the jail. Reports indicate that once Ramakrishna Reddy is released from jail, he might be arrested under the PD Act. The area around Nellore Jail has been heavily fortified by police.
EVM Destruction on Election Day:
Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, who won as an MLA in the 2014 and 2019 general elections on a YSR Congress ticket, was appointed as the government whip by former Chief Minister Jagan when the party came to power in 2019. He contested the recent assembly elections from Macharla but was involved in an incident on May 13, the polling day, where he allegedly destroyed an EVM at Polling Station 202 in Palvai Gate, Rentachintala Mandal. The incident was recorded on CCTV and went viral on social media. YSR Congress claims that the EVM destruction was in response to alleged rigging by TDP leaders and workers.
Number of Cases Against Pinnelli:
Following the polling day clashes in Macharla, Ramakrishna Reddy was placed under house arrest by police that evening. After police began investigating the riots, he went into hiding on May 14. The Election Commission took the EVM destruction case seriously and directed the arrest of Ramakrishna Reddy. Consequently, police filed several cases against him, including the destruction of the EVM at Palvai Gate polling booth, assault on a CI, attack on TDP agents, and a case of abuse against women, totaling four cases.