YS Viveka murder: YS Avinash Reddy moves Telangana HC, seeks fair probe

HYDERABAD: YSRCP Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy, who is facing the heat in the case of his uncle and former minister YS Vivekananda Reddy’s murder, on Thursday filed a writ petition in the Telangana High Court. He sought a restraining order against any possible ‘coercive measures’ by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the case.

The MP sought audio and video recording of his questioning by the CBI and in the presence of his advocate, a request he has repeatedly been making to the investigating agency. “Even though I requested several times that I be questioned in the presence of my advocate, the CBI has not obliged. The notice for questioning was issued under Section 160 CrPC. I request the honourable High Court to pass directions restraining the CBI from taking any ‘coercive steps’,” he stated in his writ petition.

According to some media reports, YS Avinash Reddy also raised his objection in his petition against the CBI not arresting Dastagiri, the A-4 accused in the YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case, so far. “The CBI also did not oppose the anticipatory bail petition of Dastagiri. Even though there is no evidence against me, an attempt is being made to implicate me in the case. The investigation by the agency is proceeding on Dastagiri’s statement, which was merely based on hearsay. The investigating officer is also altering my statements given during the questioning. The style of functioning of the investigating officer in the case smacks of prejudice,” the media reports quoted YS Avinash Reddy as stating in his writ petition.

The Kadapa MP also expressed the anguish that he was being portrayed as a culprit in the chargesheet even though the questioning was going on at the notice stage. Alleging that the CBI was not taking cognisance of the facts of the case, he sought the Telangana High Court directions to the CBI for a fair investigation.

The Kadapa MP is scheduled to appear before the CBI in Hyderabad on March 10, 2023, (Friday) for questioning in the case for the third time.

As per the earlier summons, YS Avinash Reddy was supposed to turn up at the CBI office in Hyderabad on March 6, 2023. However, the MP expressed his inability to appear before the agency, citing pre-scheduled official engagements on that day and requested for a postponement. Agreeing to his request, the CBI served fresh summons to him to be present for questioning on March 10 while ordering his father YS Bhaskar Reddy to face the grilling on March 12 in Pulivendula itself.