Vivekananda Reddy Murder Case: SC To Hear Plea Challenging Anticipatory Bail To YSR Congress MP

The Telangana High Court had granted anticipatory bail to Avinash Reddy and also directed him not to leave the country without prior permission of the CBI.

The Supreme Court on Friday agreed to hear a plea on June 13 regarding the Telangana High Court's order granting anticipatory bail to YSR Congress MP YS Avinash Reddy in the murder case of former Andhra Pradesh minister YS Vivekananda Reddy. The plea was filed by Suneetha Narreddy, daughter of YS Vivekananda Reddy, IANS reported.

Senior advocate Sidharth Luthra, representing Narreddy, sought an urgent hearing on the petition, claiming that Avinash Reddy was the principal conspirator in the death of her father and he was receiving political support from the administration. Luthra argued that the High Court made its decision based on certain media reports rather than considering the evidence collected by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).

"The accused is the principal conspirator in my father's murder. The High Court did not grant interim protection initially. Now, the HC has gone on the basis of media reports," Luthra said.

Narreddy's plea stated that the High Court accepted the accused's case while disregarding the evidence collected by the CBI. It further claimed that Avinash Reddy had evaded notices for appearance and had not cooperated with the CBI.

The plea argued that the High Court's decision to grant anticipatory bail to the accused was contrary to the law established by the Supreme Court, and the HC conducted a mini-trial, provided findings, and made comments on the merits of the prosecution's case.

On May 31, the Telangana High Court granted anticipatory bail to Avinash Reddy with certain conditions. The court directed him not to leave the country without prior permission from the CBI and not to tamper with prosecution witnesses or alter any evidence.

Avinash Reddy had failed to appear before the CBI on May 16 and May 19, citing prior engagements and his mother's illness, respectively. The CBI had issued fresh notices to him, and there were reports of CBI officials going to Kurnool to potentially arrest him.

Avinash Reddy wrote to the CBI seeking exemption from appearance until May 27 due to his mother's condition.

Vivekananda Reddy, the brother of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and uncle of Jagan Mohan Reddy, was murdered at his residence in Pulivendula on March 15, 2019, shortly before the elections. Last month, the CBI arrested Avinash Reddy's father, Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy, who is a cousin of Rajasekhara Reddy.