Smt. Sriramula Krishna Veni has appealed to the Supreme Court against the anticipatory bail granted to five police colleagues of her deceased husband, Srinu, a Dalit SI who committed suicide due to alleged caste harassment. Her petition argues that the Telangana High Court overlooked vital evidence, emphasizing the need for accountability in caste-based discrimination within police institutions.
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has been approached by Smt. Sriramula Krishna Veni, the wife of deceased Dalit police sub-inspector (SI) Srinu from Telangana, challenging the anticipatory bail granted to five of his colleagues. These colleagues, including a Circle Inspector and four constables, allegedly harassed Srinu on the basis of caste, which drove him to take his own life. This case, Smt. Sriramula Krishna Veni v. The State of Telangana and Ors., brings into focus the impact of caste-based discrimination within law enforcement.
The five policemen have been booked under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, 1989 (SC/ST Act) and Section 306 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) for abetment of suicide. Despite the serious charges, the Telangana High Court granted them anticipatory bail through orders issued on September 4 and September 20, leading Veni to seek justice in the Supreme Court.
The appeal, filed through advocate Sriram Parakkat, argues that the High Court overlooked critical elements in the case, especially Srinu’s dying declaration, where he explicitly accused a senior official of harassment. This declaration, paired with the “unnatural” nature of Srinu’s death, strongly indicated abetment of suicide, Veni contends.
Veni’s plea emphasizes a substantial risk of evidence tampering and witness influence by the Circle Inspector, due to his position within the police department. Moreover, the plea highlights that the caste-based harassment was not sufficiently considered by the High Court when granting bail to the accused.
Veni has now urged the Supreme Court to stay the High Court’s bail orders, hoping for a more thorough investigation and accountability for caste-based injustice. Her pursuit for justice sheds light on the pressing need to address discrimination within India’s institutions, especially for those tasked with upholding the law.
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