When YSR Congress party led by former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was in power in Andhra Pradesh, Jana Sena Party president and present deputy chief Pawan Kalyan championed the cause of Sugali Preethi, a Dalit girl who was found dead in suspicious circumstances in Cattamanchi Ramalinga Reddy High School hostel, on the outskirts of Kurnool city on August 19, 2017.
Though the murder took place when Telugu Desam Party led by N Chandrababu Naidu was in power, Pawan took up the issue after Jagan came to power and blamed the latter for not taking any steps in resolving the case. He said he would stand by the family of Sugali Preethi.
Soon after the incident took place, the police then registered a case and arrested the accused but they were let out on bail. During Jagan regime, the case was proposed to be handed over to the CBI in February 2020.
However, the CBI failed to take up the case and Preethi’s parents approached the High Court on September 11, 2020. The court directed the CBI to file a counter and it was submitted.
In February 2025, the CBI informed the state high court that it could not continue investigating the Sugali Preethi case due to a lack of resources. It requested the court to dismiss the petition filed by her parents.
It has been more than 15 months since the coalition government came to power and Pawan Kalyan became the deputy CM. So far, he has not made any attempt to follow up the case nor has he extended any assistance to the family.
On Thursday, Sugali Preeti’s mother Parvati expressed deep anguish, questioning why Pawan Kalyan, who had once raised her daughter’s name while in the opposition, is now silent after coming to power.
Speaking at a press conference in Vijayawada, Parvati made sensational remarks targeting Pawan Kalyan and criticized him sharply.
She said that while in the opposition, Pawan Kalyan had promised to ensure justice in her daughter’s murder case, but after coming to power, he has shown no concern.
“My daughter was brutally raped and murdered. I have been fighting for justice for eight long years. Pawan promised that his first signature after coming to power would be on Preeti’s file, but even after 14 months, he hasn’t spoken a single word about it,” she said.
She demanded that Pawan exert pressure on the Centre for a CBI probe.
“There must also be a discussion in the assembly about my daughter’s case,” Parvati said.
Parvati announced that she is preparing for intensified protests, including digital campaigns and hunger strikes.
“I will meet the Governor to convey my anguish. If needed, I will stage an indefinite hunger strike in front of the Jana Sena and TDP offices. I will not stop my fight until my daughter gets justice,” she asserted.
