Bharadwaja Ranghavajjula, a film critic and director, is preparing for a significant meeting organized by the Human Rights Council at Ambedkar Bhavan in Guntur on October 4, 2024. The focus of this gathering will be the case of Sathuluru Chalapathi Rao and Gentela Vijayvardhan Rao, who have spent 30 years in prison for their involvement in a tragic bus fire that killed 23 people in 1993.
In 1997, just hours before their scheduled execution, a late-night phone call had spared them. The Supreme Court granted a stay, but their path to justice has been fraught with challenges. Over the years, pleas for clemency were rejected, turning their case into a topic of debate regarding justice and human rights.
Bharadwaja believes strongly that jails should focus on reforming individuals rather than punishing them indefinitely. “It’s time to reconsider their sentences,” he stated, highlighting that continued imprisonment violates human rights. He is calling for compassion urging attendees, humanitarians and activists to support the release of the two men.
As the date approaches, Bharadwaja is hopeful that many will join the Council’s efforts, signing petitions and sharing stories of hope and redemption. He aims to unite people in advocating for a more humane justice system that emphasizes second chances. Together, they seek to change the narrative surrounding long-term imprisonment and promote a more just society.