Jagan’s vehicle ‘crushes YSRCP supporter’ who was showering petals, Andhra police begin probe as video goes viral
Police launch probe into 55-year-old's death. On same day, another party worker died in melee of YSRCP supporters
Written by Sreenivas Janyala
Hyderabad | Updated: June 23, 2025 12:57 AM IST
3 min read
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The incident happened when former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy was visiting Palnadu. (Photo: X/@ysjagan)
Police in Guntur district of Andhra Pradesh have launched an investigation after a YSRCP supporter was allegedly run over by the vehicle of party president and former chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy on Wednesday.
Cheeli Singaiah, 55, died after being run over purportedly when he slipped and fell in front of the vehicle while trying to shower flowers on Jagan. According to officials, the vehicle’s front right wheel ran over the man’s neck.
Police and YSRCP supporters rushed him to a nearby hospital and later to Guntur Government Hospital, but he died on the way, said Guntur Superintendent of Police S Satish Kumar.
Initially, it was thought that Singaiah was injured after climbing on a vehicle in Jagan’s convoy and falling down, but videos of him being crushed under the vehicle in which Jagan was travelling have gone viral on social media.
Singaiah was a resident of Vengalayapalem village and had gone to greet Jagan with flowers. The incident occurred when Jagan was returning after visiting Rentapalla village in Palnadu district, where he had gone to console the family of a former sarpanch who had died by suicide, allegedly due to police harassment.
Singaiah “unfortunately fell down in front of the convoy and was run over”, SP Kumar said.
On the same day, another YSRCP supporter, 30-year-old P Jayvardhan Reddy, collapsed and died in a melee of Jagan supporters near Sattenapalli clock tower. He was declared brought dead at the Guntur Government Hospital.
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Jagan’s visit to Palnadu had already become controversial due to a placard held up by a YSRCP supporter, which led to a police case and a political blame game.
The placard, held up by YSRCP worker T Raviteja on Wednesday, said: “When YSRCP comes to power in 2029”, and below that, “rapa rapa narukuta”. The Telugu words were part of a line delivered by Allu Arjun in Pushpa 2. It translates to “cut them down, one by one”.
Police in Palnadu said they registered a case against Raviteja.
Andhra Pradesh Home Minister V Anitha accused Jagan of encouraging such “violent” statements.
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Jagan defended the placard, saying it was not meant to be violent and asked, “So, now you can’t even quote a line from a movie?”
Sreenivas Janyala is a Deputy Associate Editor at The Indian Express, where he serves as one of the most authoritative voices on the socio-political and economic landscape of Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. With a career spanning over two decades in mainstream journalism, he provides deep-dive analysis and frontline reporting on the intricate dynamics of South Indian governance.
Expertise and Experience
Regional Specialization: Based in Hyderabad, Sreenivas has spent more than 20 years documenting the evolution of the Telugu-speaking states. His reporting was foundational during the historic Telangana statehood movement and continues to track the post-bifurcation development of both Telangana and Andhra Pradesh.
Key Coverage Beats: His extensive portfolio covers a vast spectrum of critical issues:
High-Stakes Politics: Comprehensive tracking of regional powerhouses (BRS, TDP, YSRCP, and Congress), electoral shifts, and the political careers of figures like K. Chandrashekar Rao, Chandrababu Naidu, and Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Internal Security & Conflict: Authoritative reporting on Left-Wing Extremism (LWE), the decline of the Maoist movement in former hotbeds, and intelligence-led investigations into regional security modules.
Governance & Infrastructure: Detailed analysis of massive irrigation projects (like Kaleshwaram and Polavaram), capital city developments (Amaravati), and the implementation of state welfare schemes.
Crisis & Health Reporting: Led the publication's ground-level coverage of the Covid-19 pandemic in South India and major industrial incidents, such as the Vizag gas leak.
Analytical Depth: Beyond daily news, Sreenivas is known for his "Explained" pieces that demystify complex regional disputes, such as river water sharing and judicial allocations between the sister states. ... Read More
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