Pradeep Kumar Reddy Chanda v. State of Andhra Pradesh
In the High Court of Andhra Pradesh
Crl.P. 8010/2022
Before Justice K. Sreenivasa Reddy
Decided on October 17, 2022

Relevancy of the case: Bail application in a case involving the posting of scandalising comments against the sitting High Court judges

Statutes and Provisions Involved

• The Information Technology Act, 2000 (Section 67)
• The Indian Penal Code, 1860 (Section 153A, 504, 505(2), 506)

Relevant Facts of the Case

• The accused allegedly made abusive posts on social media. They were against sitting High Court judges on their pronounced judgments. These posts also contained life-threatening remarks.
• The accused also allegedly made posts putting caste and corruption allegations against sitting judges of the Supreme Court and the Andhra Pradesh High Court.

Prominent Arguments by the Advocates

• The petitioner’s counsel argued that the accused had been in custody for over a month, and the police had completed most of the investigation.
• The Deputy Solicitor General contended that the accused’s posts intended to create hatred against the judiciary. The investigation is still pending, and the Government of India has given its sanction under Section 196 of the Code of Criminal Procedure, 1973.

Opinion of the Bench

• The court leaned in favour of considering the bail application based on the duration of the accused’s custody.

Final Decision

• The court accepted the bail application with certain conditions.