Vivekananda Reddy Murder Case: Telangana HC Directs CBI Not To Arrest Kadapa MP Till April 25

The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the CBI not to arrest YSRCP MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy in former Minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy murder case till April 25.

The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) not to arrest YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP YS Avinash Reddy from Kadapa in former Andhra Pradesh Minister YS Vivekananda Reddy's murder case until April 25. In its interim order on the anticipatory bail petition of MP Avinash Reddy, the court directed him to appear before the investigating officers of the CBI daily until April 25.

The court also suggested to the CBI that it record the entire process of interrogating Avinash Reddy. The final order on the anticipatory bail plea will be delivered on April 25.

The CBI told the court that it would question the MP along with his father, YS Bhaskar Reddy, who was arrested on Sunday, and his close aide, Gajjala Uday Kumar Reddy, who was arrested last week in the same case.

Earlier, Avinash Reddy's counsel, T. Niranjan Reddy, told the court that except for the statement of Dastagiri, an accused turned approver in the case, the CBI had no evidence against Avinash. He contended that Google Takeout data can't be relied on during the investigation.

The MP's counsel also told the court that there is a contradiction between Dastagiri's statement about another accused, Sunil Yadav, and Google Takeout data. He argued that family problems, extramarital relations, or financial disputes could be the reason for the murder.

On the CBI's suspicion of Avinash's role in the disappearance of evidence, the MP's counsel submitted that since Avinash is a relative of the victim, he went to the house and helped in cleaning the room.

The CBI opposed the anticipatory bail on the ground that it has to collect more information from him and that he is an influential person. It also told the court that during his four appearances before it, he did not cooperate.

The CBI counsel also argued that Avinash Reddy had knowledge of a murder conspiracy and gathered scientific and technical evidence. He also clarified that there is no evidence of financial disputes or extramarital relations.

The CBI counsel also informed the court that the weapons used in the murder had not yet been recovered. After the murder, the accused had gone to Avinash Reddy's house with weapons.

Meanwhile, the CBI court in Hyderabad on Tuesday sent Bhaskar Reddy and another accused, Uday Kumar Reddy, to CBI custody for six days. The accused are currently lodged in Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad.

The CBI has directed Avinash Reddy to appear before it on Wednesday at 10.30 a.m. The agency has conveyed to the court that it will question him in the presence of Bhaskar Reddy and Uday Kumar Reddy.

Avinash Reddy, the cousin of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y. S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, has been questioned by the CBI four times during the last couple of months.

Vivekananda Reddy, brother of former chief minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and uncle of Jagan Mohan Reddy, was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula of Kadapa district on the night of March 15, 2019, a few days before the elections.

The 68-year-old former state minister and former MP were alone at his house when unidentified persons barged in and killed him.
The CBI took over the investigation into the case in 2020 on the direction of the Andhra Pradesh High Court while hearing a petition from Vivekananda Reddy's daughter, Suneetha Reddy, who raised suspicions about some relatives.

The Supreme Court transferred the case to Hyderabad in November last year, observing that the doubts raised by Suneetha Reddy about getting a fair trial and investigation in Andhra Pradesh were reasonable.