Supreme Court Allows YSRCP Member Pedda Reddy To Have Police Security At Own Expense

The Supreme Court today(August 29) kept in abeyance an August 20 interim order passed by the Andhra High Court's division bench, which suspended a single judge's order providing necessary security for YSR Congress Party former MLA Kethireddy Pedda Reddy to visit his residence in Tadipatri. 

Reportedly, clashes broke out after last year's election results in the backdrop of the rivalry between Pedda and another candidate, senior TDP leader J.C. Prabhakar Reddy. Pedda lost the 2024 elections against Reddy, and he was apparently forced to leave Tadipatri.

A bench comprising Justice Vikram Nath and Justice Sandeep Mehta passed an order in a special leave petition mentioned and argued by Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave.

Dave submitted that Pedda is willing to bear the expenses of security, but at least he should be allowed to visit his residence. Justice Nath asked if he didn't have his personal security, he should spend some money on it. Dave, however, replied that even then, it does not "absolve" the State from protecting him and alleged that there is "rampant abuse of process" by the political party in power. 

To this, Justice Nath said that the directions by the division bench are "rightly stayed". But Mehta offered that if he is willing to bear the expense of his security. When Dave answered that Pedda is very much willing to afford his security, the Court decided to keep the division bench's order in abeyance.

The order states: "The petitioner is willing to bear the entire expense of the security that may be provided to him under the orders of the single judge in contempt proceedings. In that view of the matter, the interim order passed by the division bench is kept in abeyance. However, the division bench can decide the appeal."

Reddy had then approached the High Court to seek police protection and security to enter and reside in his constituency, Tadipatri, which was allowed by the single judge. But due to the law and order concerns, he was shifted to Anantapur. Against this, contempt proceedings were initiated, and the single judge passed a detailed order on August 14 such as fixing the time and date of Reddy's entry in Tadipatri, etc.

However, a division bench set aside the order and directions passed.

Case Details:  KETHIREDDY PEDDA REDDY Vs P. JAGADEESH|SLP(C) No. 24299/2025

Appearances: Siddhartha Dave, Sr. Adv, Ramesh Allanki, Adv Aruna Gupta, Adv Alabhya Dhamija, Adv and Venkata Raghuvamsy D, AOR