Two injured as ex-minister's 'high' son rams SUV into bike in Vizag

Visakhapatnam: Apparently high after downing a few too many, former minister and senior TDP leader Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy’s son Appala Naidu went berserk on his SUV and knocked down a motorcycle, injuring two youths on Vizag's Beach Road.

The incident took place in the early hours of Sunday when Appala Naidu and his friends, including Suryadevara Mourya, son of retired DIG S Venkateswara Rao and another friend Uriti Praveen Yadhav, were returning home from a party at a star hotel for the pre-release of Balakrishna starrer Ruler, said police sources.

Naidu was at the wheel when the vehicle rammed into the two-wheeler from behind near the Potti Sreeramulu statue. Gowtham, who was riding the motorcycle, sustained minor injuries, while pillion rider Chandra Kiran suffered multiple injuries, including a bleeding nose.

The SUV came to a halt only after hitting the road divider and the base of the statue. Both the vehicles were damaged, said the sources. The police arrived at the scene after being alerted by locals and morning walkers.

Chandra Kiran was taken to the King George Hospital, little distance away from the crash site. Sources said that he is a first-year MBBS student of Andhra Medical College and his condition is said to stable.

Upset over the rash driving, locals tried to thrash Naidu and his friends, but they managed to escape. Later, Mourya and Praveen went to the police. Mourya underwent a breathalyser test, said the sources.

Inspector of Three-Town police station K Rama Rao said they have registered a case against Naidu under Section 337 of IPC – for endangering life or personal safety – and a probe is on to ascertain whether he was drunk at the time of the accident.