New Delhi, Feb. 21 -- The Supreme Court on Friday pulled up the Andhra Pradesh police for "hobnobbing" with a sitting member of legislative council (MLC) of the YSR Congress Party, who is an accused in a 2022 murder, whose trial has not moved to the stage of framing of charge in three years even as the politician is out on interim bail.

Striking a balance between fair trial and personal liberty, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Surya Kant said, "This is a clear case of nexus of power and police," as it noticed the "laxity" and "complicity" of the state police to conclude trial in a case for the past four years.

In a stinging criticism of the handling of the case, the bench, also comprising justices Joymalya Bagchi and Vipu...