On July 10, 2026, a tragic road accident occurred on the old National Highway road at Kasibugga in Srikakulam district, Andhra Pradesh, resulting in the death of a 45-year-old man named D. Danayya. According to reports, Danayya died instantly after being hit by a two-wheeler. The vehicle involved in the accident was allegedly driven by the son of Seediri Appalaraju, a former minister and senior leader of the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
Following the incident, the police initially arrested a friend of the former minister's son, as the two-wheeler was registered in the friend's name. However, as the investigation progressed, the police gathered prima facie evidence pointing towards the involvement of Seediri Appalaraju's son in the accident. This development led to the son surrendering at the Kasibugga police station on the evening of Monday, July 13, 2026.
The surrender came amid a tense atmosphere at the police station, where YSRCP leaders and party activists had gathered in large numbers. These supporters urged the police not to file a case against the accused, asserting that he was not involved in the accident. Despite the pressure, the accused and his legal representatives appealed to the activists to maintain peace and restraint during the investigation.
The local community had initially lodged a complaint alleging that the son of the YSRCP leader was the rider who struck Danayya. These allegations were strongly denied by Appalaraju's family members, who claimed that the police were attempting to tarnish their reputation under the influence of opposition leaders from the Telugu Desam Party (TDP). The conflicting statements and accusations created a complicated backdrop for the police to conduct a fair and thorough investigation.
In response to the conflicting claims, the Srikakulam Police launched a fresh inquiry into the matter, focusing on verifying evidence related to the accident. The authorities reviewed CCTV footage from a petrol bunk and other locations along the route where the accident occurred. The footage confirmed that Appalaraju's son was present at the petrol station and on the National Highway at around 10 p.m. on the night of the accident. However, the police noted that there was no clear CCTV evidence capturing the actual accident or the precise moment of the collision.
The case has thus remained under close scrutiny, with law enforcement trying to piece together the facts amid political tensions. In response to the ongoing investigation and accusations, YSRCP State secretary Yenni Dhanunjay accused the ruling party of attempting to malign Seediri Appalaraju and his family. He suggested that this was a deliberate effort to discredit them because they had been vocal about exposing alleged wrongdoings by the state government.
The incident and its aftermath highlight the challenges faced when road accidents involve politically connected individuals, which often lead to heightened public interest and political controversies. The police continue to investigate the case to establish a clear sequence of events and determine accountability, while balancing the demands for justice from the victim's family and the political pressures surrounding the accused.
As of now, the son of Seediri Appalaraju remains in police custody following his surrender, and further legal proceedings are expected. The community of Kasibugga and the wider Srikakulam district await the conclusions of the investigation to bring clarity and closure to this unfortunate incident.