Police in Andhra Pradesh’s Srikakulam district apprehended Seediri Appalaraju, a former minister and YSR Congress Party leader, for allegedly altering evidence in a hit-and-run incident involving his son. Appalaraju was taken into custody from his residence in Kasibugga and is undergoing questioning at the local police station. He may undergo a medical examination at a government hospital before being presented to a magistrate.
Tension escalated at Appalaraju’s residence during the arrest, with a large group of his supporters present, claiming political bias and harassment by the NDA government. The YSRCP leader is accused of obstructing the investigation and tampering with evidence in the hit-and-run case linked to his son, Arav Varma. The incident occurred on July 10 when Arav’s two-wheeler allegedly struck and killed a 45-year-old man named Danayya on the Old National Highway at Kasibugga.
Initially, local authorities charged another individual, Siddardh, a friend of Arav, in connection with the accident. However, CCTV footage from a nearby petrol station revealed that Arav was riding the vehicle before the collision, leading to the arrest of both Arav Varma and Siddardh. Appalaraju was also implicated in the case for allegedly using his influence to protect his son, resulting in his inclusion in the First Information Report (FIR). He faces accusations of pressuring the victim’s family to retract their complaint and attempting to hide evidence.
Former Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy criticized Appalaraju’s arrest, denouncing it as a politically motivated move by Chandrababu Naidu’s government. Reddy accused the government of exploiting a road accident for political vendetta, highlighting the arrest of Appalaraju and his son as part of a broader persecution against YSRCP leaders.
