The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is questioning Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy, his father YS Bhaskar Reddy, and their follower Uday Kumar Reddy for the murder of former minister YS Vivekananda Reddy. Avinash Reddy appeared before the CBI officials while his father and Uday were grilled for the third day in CBI custody. The CBI is questioning the accused about the reasons for the murder, events of the day when the crime was committed, and their movements on the day.
Avinash Reddy has to appear daily before the CBI until April 25 as per the direction of the Telangana High Court. This was the fifth time that the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP appeared before the CBI. The CBI had summoned Avinash Reddy for questioning on April 17 but deferred twice due to hearing of his anticipatory bail petition.
Bhaskar Reddy was arrested by the CBI on April 16 while his follower Uday Kumar Reddy was arrested on April 14 in Pulivendula town of Kadapa district in Andhra Pradesh. Both were brought to Hyderabad where a court sent them to judicial custody.
Vivekananda Reddy, 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, a few days before the elections. The CBI took over the investigation into the case in 2020 on the direction of Andhra Pradesh High Court while hearing a petition of Vivekananda Reddy’s daughter Suneetha Reddy, who raised suspicion about some relatives.
The Supreme Court transferred the case to Hyderabad in November last year after Suneetha Reddy raised doubts about getting a fair trial and investigation in Andhra Pradesh. With the Supreme Court setting April 30 as the deadline for the CBI to complete its investigation, the agency has expedited the probe with the arrest of Bhaskar Reddy and Uday Kumar Reddy and questioning of Avinash Reddy.
