ORDER :

Before I delve into facts of present petition, I felt to place on record certain attempts by selective media to thwart and derail judicial process by making attempts to tarnish my image and attempts to intimidate and threaten to derail independent thought process in arriving just decision in this matter. The individuals of selective media facilitated and abetted by airing views of selective personnel of their choice with conscious knowledge of their antecedents to intimidate, to threaten and to damage my reputation by personal attack. I have greatest regard to press and news media which is fourth estate and which is forerunner in preserving democracy. They have every right to express their opinion touching merits of any decision which is essential in rightful democracy. Day by day, reputation of such important institution is eroding but for some individuals.

2. One of the participant, who is suspended and detained judge made direct attack by saying “money bags went to Judge”. Other participant who seems to be holding respectable office made derogatory language (“Cheyyendra”) and gestures which are aimed to tarnish my comprehension and competency by his mis-interpretation and misunderstanding of deliberations of Court proceedings. I am least worried about such attempts to tarnish image since image one had is indestructible and if such image is prone to destruction, it is not image at all.

3. All that concerned me is inroads of such actions to damage institutional image. It is high time to protect image by concerted efforts. I am greatly hurt not by individual comment but facilitation and abetment done by selective media. In my view, such actions clearly amount to invocation of proceedings under contempt of Courts Act, but I desist to do leaving open to head of institution to take or not to take action. At one stage, I thought of recusal, but for direction of the Apex Court and remindful of oath of office particularly “discharge of duties without fear”, I changed my mind. I direct the Registry to place this order and video clippings of debates of Mahaa News and ABN News (Telugu) dated 26/5/2023 by down loading from available source with regard to evening/early night debates over present proceedings along with this order before the Hon’ble the Chief Justice of High Court for the State of Telangana to take appropriate decision.

4. This petition is filed under Section 438 of Cr.P.C seeking anticipatory bail apprehending the arrest of the petitioner in FIR No.RC-04(S)/2020/CBI/SC-III/New Delhi dated 09.07.2020, for the offence under Section 302 of IPC registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (for short ‘CBI’).

5. The background of facts disclose that on the intervening night of 14/15.03.2019 in between 01.30 am to 03.00 am in the house of Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy (hereinafter referred to as ‘deceased’), situated at Bhakarapuram, Pulivendula Town, Kadapa District, accused No.1 to 4 hacked the deceased to death. Accused No.1 was close follower of the deceased and he was with the deceased in his house on the date of incident. In pursuance of conspiracy, which was formed on 10.02.2019, accused No.1 facilitated accused Nos. 2 to 4 to enter the house of the deceased, and all of them hacked the deceased to death with axe and also traced out valuable documents and took away them. Accused Nos. 2 to 4 went away from the side door and accused No.1 left from the front main door, which was allegedly witnessed by one Ranganna, watchman/gardener. Accused No.1 threatened Ranganna that he would be killed, if he discloses the incident to anyone.

6. The incident came to light when one M.V.Krishna Reddy, who is Personal Assistant of the deceased came to the house and when the deceased did not open the door, he asked Ranganna, cook-Lakshmamma and her son to go inside and wake up the deceased. Upon the same, they found that the bedroom was completely covered by blood and they found the deceased was in pool of blood in the bathroom. Immediately,