Hans News Service Amaravati

YSRCP president Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy and former minister Seediri Appalaraju were unable to meet in jail on Wednesday after prison authorities denied permission, citing prison regulations.

According to prison officials, YSRCP leaders sought permission for Appalaraju to meet Jagan after 5 pm. However, the request was rejected as prison rules permit visitors only during the prescribed visiting hours, which end before 5 pm. After consulting higher authorities, the jail administration decided that no exception could be made and denied the meeting.

The development comes days after Appalaraju was arrested by the Kasibugga police in Srikakulam district on July 22. He was named as an accused in a case alleging that he conspired to tamper with evidence and cover up his son’s involvement in a road accident. The refusal to allow the meeting has triggered political discussion, with the YSRCP seeking to facilitate interaction between its chief and the former minister, while prison authorities maintained that the decision was taken strictly in accordance with jail rules. Later, speaking to media along with family members of Appalaraju, Jagan Mohan Reddy accused the Chandrababu Naidu-led government of conspiring against the family of former minister. He alleged that an accidental case involving Raju’s son was deliberately turned into a murder charge to target the family.

Jagan said the incident reflected “vindictive politics” in the state. He claimed Raju’s son, an 18-year-old student aspiring to become a doctor, was involved in an accident but tried to help the victim by calling emergency services and performing CPR. Despite this, the case was twisted into a murder conspiracy, Jagan alleged.

He questioned whether similar action would have been taken if the accident had involved ruling party legislators. Jagan accused the government of sowing divisions among communities and misusing the system to harass political opponents. He also criticized Naidu for failing to support fishermen and BC communities, alleging that welfare schemes were being neglected while false cases were filed against rivals.

Jagan asserted that the YSRCP stood firmly with Appalaraju’s family and expressed confidence that justice would prevail. “Appalaraju will soon walk free,” he said, condemning what he described as attempts to destroy the career and reputation of a leader from a humble background.