Interim Bail For Mithun Reddy, Rules Must Change!

Rajampeta MP Mithun Reddy, who is currently in judicial custody at Rajahmundry Central Jail, has been granted interim bail for five days. This is to allow him to vote in the upcoming Vice-President election, scheduled in Delhi on 9th September.

He is required to surrender back in court on the 11th. Since the Constitution does not provide for postal ballot voting in Presidential or Vice-Presidential elections, Mithun cited this reason to seek temporary release.

However, the decision to grant bail has sparked criticism. Earlier, the court denied his regular bail, citing his influence and the risk of interference in the investigation. Critics now argue that the same risks remain, even during this short bail period.

Many believe such interim bail should not be granted for symbolic votes, especially when the accused has been denied regular bail. If the vote won’t impact the outcome, as is likely the case here, it raises questions about the legal precedent it sets.

Courts, some say, should consider advising the Central Government to amend laws allowing postal ballot options for Parliamentarians in custody. Alternatively, judges could assess whether a vote holds enough significance to justify interim release.

Mithun Reddy is one of the key accused in the multi-crore Andhra Pradesh Liquor Scam. According to the SIT, the main accused, Raj Kasireddy, allegedly collected ₹50–60 crore monthly and handed it over to Mithun Reddy (A-4), former MP Vijayasai Reddy (A-5), and Govindappa Balaji (A-33), a director at Bharathi Cements and financial manager for YS Bharathi, wife of Jagan Mohan Reddy.

The SIT claims around ₹3,500 crore was siphoned off in this manner. They also allege that this money was periodically transferred to Jagan Mohan Reddy. If the investigation continues at its current pace, officials say it is only a matter of time before YS Jagan is officially named as an accused.