Viveka’s defeat in 2017 MLC elections turns crucial in CBI questioning on Saturday

HYDERABAD: The circumstances that resulted in the defeat of former MP YS Vivevkananda Reddy in 2017 MLC elections turned crucial during the questioning of YSRCP MP YS Avinash Reddy’s father YS Bhaskar Reddy and their aide Uday Kumar Reddy by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) at its office in Koti here on Saturday.

For the fourth consecutive day, the CBI questioned Bhaskar Reddy and Uday Kumar Reddy after bringing them from the Chanchalguda prison where they were lodged after being arrested in connection with the murder of Vivekananda Reddy at his house in Kadapa on the intervening night of March 14 and 15 2019.

The CBI sought to know the reasons behind the defeat of Vivekananda Reddy as YSRCP candidate during the MLC elections. In her statement that surfaced in public domain on Friday, Vivekananda Reddy’s second wife Shameem explained that the sabotage was caused by Bhaskar Reddy’s family members - YS Avinash Reddy and YS Manohar Reddy — who did not extend support to Vivekananda Reddy during the elections.

The trio failed to ask their loyalists to support Vivekananda Reddy during the elections. As a result, Vivekananda Reddy lost the elections. His entire family was in shock after the election result. Since then there were differences among Bhaskar Reddy and Vivekananda Reddy’s families over political clout.

Vivekananda Reddy later came to know about the sabotage caused by Bhaskar Reddy to him.

The CBI questioned Bhaskar Reddy and Uday Kumar Reddy for over six hours. It later shifted them to the Chanchalguda prison. Avinash Reddy, however, did not appear for the questioning.

Viveka’s son-in-law Narreddy Rajasekhara Reddy seen at CBI office

In a twist to the ongoing investigation, Vivekananda Reddy’s son-in-law N Rajashekhar Reddy came to the CBI office on Saturday. His presence at the CBI assumed significance after the statement given by Shameem to the CBI circulated into public domain on Friday.

In her statement, she explained in detail how Vivekananda Reddy faced problems in the family and how his cheque powers were withdrawn and isolated in the family.