Avinash Reddy, who is a second cousin of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, was asked to appear before the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in Hyderabad on May 16. However, he did not turn up due to pre-scheduled engagements in his parliamentary constituency in Kadapa district. Avinash had already been questioned four times by the CBI and had approached Telangana High Court for anticipatory bail. The court adjourned the hearing to June 5. The CBI is investigating the murder of Avinash’s uncle and former MP YS Vivekananda Reddy, who was killed at his residence in Pulivendula in March 2019, weeks before the state Assembly elections. The CBI took over the investigation in 2020 on the direction of Andhra Pradesh High Court while hearing a petition of Vivekananda’s daughter Suneetha Reddy, who raised suspicion about the involvement of some relatives. The Supreme Court transferred the case to Hyderabad on a petition by Suneetha Reddy in November last year. Last month, the CBI arrested Avinash Reddy’s father YS Bhaskar Reddy in the case.
The CBI had served Avinash with a notice to appear at its regional office in Hyderabad at 11 am on May 16, but he did not show up. Instead, he left for Pulivendula in Kadapa district, citing pre-scheduled engagements. Avinash had already been questioned four times by the CBI and sought anticipatory bail from Telangana High Court, which adjourned the hearing to June 5. The Supreme Court had earlier set aside Telangana High Court’s interim order staying his arrest by the CBI till April 25, extending the deadline for completing the investigation into the case till June 30. The CBI is investigating the murder of Avinash’s uncle and former MP YS Vivekananda Reddy, who was killed at his residence in Pulivendula in March 2019, weeks before the state Assembly elections. The CBI took over the investigation in 2020 on the direction of Andhra Pradesh High Court while hearing a petition of Vivekananda’s daughter Suneetha Reddy, who raised suspicion about the involvement of some relatives. The Supreme Court transferred the case to Hyderabad on a petition by Suneetha Reddy in November last year. Last month, the CBI arrested Avinash Reddy’s father YS Bhaskar Reddy in the case.
