YS Viveka murder: Dr Sunitha turns lawyer, SC refuses to serve notice to CBI

NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Tuesday turned down the request of Dr Sunitha Reddy Narreddy, daughter of slain former minister YS Vivekananda Reddy, to serve a notice to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in connection with her latest petition. The apex court also adjourned the hearing on the petition to June 19, 2023.

In an unprecedented move, Dr Sunitha argued the case herself before a Supreme Court division bench of Justice Vikramnath and Justice A Amanullah, which heard her petition. Dr Sunitha Reddy approached the apex court, for the umpteenth time, challenging the Telangana High Court order, granting anticipatory bail to YSRCP Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy in connection with her father’s murder case. Both Sunitha and the CBI, which is probing the murder case, accuse YS Avinash Reddy, his father YS Bhaskar Reddy and a few others of their involvement in the sensational case.

As soon as the petition came before the bench on Tuesday, Dr Sunitha Reddy Narreddy, the petitioner, chose to present the arguments herself. Justice Vikram Nath, who reportedly advised her to use the services of an advocate, then urged senior advocate Siddharth Luthra to assist her. Contradictory reports also emerged claiming that Dr Sunitha had to present the arguments herself as senior counsels were not allowed to appear before the court.

According to reports, interesting exchanges were witnessed on this occasion between the Supreme Court judges and the petitioner. Here is a blow-by-blow account of the proceedings during the hearing on the petition:

Supreme Court: We will hear this after vacations, what is the urgency to hear this now?

Justice Amanullah: CBI can see if custodial interrogation is required.

Dr Sunitha Reddy Narreddy: The accused is not cooperating with the investigation.

Siddharth Luthra: Investigation has to be completed by June 30th, as per this court's order.

Supreme Court: You will put us in trouble for discriminating.. You cannot argue, you may only assist.

Justice Amanullah: You know, it would be wrong for us to tweak our coordinate benches' order.

Dr Sunitha Reddy Narreddy: Please issue a notice to CBI and we can argue tomorrow (June 14, 2023) on it.

Supreme Court: See, this matter also has a lot of technical aspects. So, it would be better if your senior counsel argues, maybe the bench, coming next week, would allow the senior to argue..Let’s keep it after vacations..come on July 3rd..

Dr Sunitha Reddy Narreddy: Earlier also, SC has said that the High Court's order was infructuous..

Supreme Court: Accused is your cousin?

Dr Sunitha Reddy Narreddy: Yes, he is my second cousin..

Siddharth Luthra: We will ask the AoR to come and argue tomorrow (June 14, 2023)..

Supreme Court: Not inclined to issue notice, list on June 19 (2023).

The CBI, in its recent counter affidavit filed in the Telangana High Court, has sensationally claimed that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy, a cousin of Dr Sunitha Reddy, knew about the death of YS Vivekananda Reddy, well before the news was broken to the outside world by the slain leader’s personal assistant Krishna Reddy.