Within hours of instructing public prosecutors to file a petition in the High Court challenging the Railway Court’s order closing criminal cases against Kapu activists involved in the 2016 Tuni train burning incident, the Andhra Pradesh government, led by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, announced that it would not reopen the case.
The government clarified that there would be no appeal against the Railway Court's verdict and directed officials to withdraw any such plans.
It emphasized that it had no intention to revive the case and called for caution in dealing with sensitive matters.
Interestingly, despite signals from some officials on Monday about reopening the case, the government reversed its stance within 24 hours and formally issued a Government Order (GO) withdrawing the appeal.
Now, political circles are abuzz with questions about why the Naidu government backtracked on its decision to reopen the Tuni case.
According to some observers, Jana Sena Party president and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan intervened and urged Naidu not to proceed with reopening the case, as the Kapu community was already angry over the issue.
“Naidu, who initially planned to target Mudragada Padmanabham through the case, understood the sentiment and complied with Pawan Kalyan’s request,” said one political observer.
Meanwhile, TDP Rajya Sabha MP S Satish, also from the Kapu community, claimed credit for the decision. He noted that emotions ran high in the combined Godavari districts after news broke of the case being reopened.
To convey the community’s sentiments, Satish rushed to Undavalli on Tuesday afternoon and requested TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh to reconsider the move.
Given the significant support the ruling alliance enjoys among Kapus, Lokesh is said to have advised officials not to pursue the case.
Satish later met Lokesh to express gratitude, praising his swift and socially conscious decision to maintain communal harmony and avoid reopening a politically sensitive matter.
Several Kapu organizations also extended thanks to Satish Babu for his role in the decision, he added.
On the other hand, YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders claim that the government's decision was influenced by the opposition’s threat to launch a massive agitation in support of the Kapus.
YSRCP’s North Andhra Regional Coordinator Kurasala Kannababu accused Naidu of being anti-Kapu and contrasted this with Jagan Mohan Reddy’s withdrawal of cases filed during previous Kapu agitations.
Other YSRCP leaders, including Ambati Rambabu and Dadisetty Raja, also threatened protests if the GO was not withdrawn.
