In a significant ruling on Friday, September 26, 2025, the Supreme Court of India directed the Chhattisgarh Police to preserve the body of Katha Ramchandra Reddy, a prominent Maoist commander. Reddy was reportedly killed in an alleged ‘fake encounter’ in the Narayanpur district, a claim that has drawn sharp criticism and demands for justice.
A Bench comprising Justices Dipankar Datta and A.G. Masih explicitly ordered that the body must not be buried or cremated until the High Court thoroughly reviews and decides on the petition that alleges a staged encounter and torture. The Bench urged the High Court to prioritize this crucial plea once it reopens after the Durga Puja vacation.
The Supreme Court clarified that it is not expressing any opinion on the merits of the case at this preliminary stage, leaving all arguments open for the High Court to consider.
Senior Advocate Colin Gonsalves, representing the petitioner Raja Chandra (Reddy’s son), passionately argued that his father was subjected to torture and subsequently killed in a ‘fake encounter.’ Gonsalves further expressed apprehension that the police might attempt to dispose of the body to conceal evidence.
In response, Solicitor General Tushar Mehta, representing the state police, stated that two individuals were killed during the encounter. He highlighted that the petitioner’s father had a substantial bounty of ₹7 crore on his head, offered by seven different states. Mehta also informed the Bench that the body of the other Maoist killed in the same incident had already been handed over to his family and cremated, while Reddy’s body remained in the hospital morgue. He asserted that the postmortem was conducted under video recording, dismissing any suggestions of malafide intent from the police.
The Bench acknowledged that the petition seeks an investigation into the alleged fake encounter by an independent agency, preferably the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), with officers from outside Chhattisgarh, and requests a fresh postmortem examination. The petitioner had initially approached the High Court, but the matter could not be listed urgently due to an impending vacation, prompting him to move the Supreme Court.
With these directives, the Supreme Court has disposed of the petition, ensuring the preservation of evidence vital to the ongoing allegations. Both Katha Ramchandra Reddy and Kadari Satyanarayana Reddy were killed in the encounter that took place on September 22.