YS Vivekananda Reddy converted to Islam, troubled by own family: Shameem

HYDERABAD: Adding more spice to the YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case and the suspense surrounding it, a statement reportedly given by his second wife Shaik Shameem to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the past, has made its way into the public domain. Shameem, whom the former minister allegedly married in 2010 long before his death, is believed to have furnished three statements to the CBI as part of the agency’s investigation into the gruesome murder. The woman made several startling revelations on her relationship with YS Vivekananda Reddy and their troubles with his family, thus deepening the mystery on the real motives behind his killing.

In one of the statements given to the CBI, accessed and flashed by one of the Telugu news television channels on Friday, Shameem claimed that Y S Vivekananda Reddy was kept at a distance by his own family. She also alleged that she was threatened a few times by Narreddy Siva Sankar Reddy, the brother of Vivekananda Reddy’s son-in-law Narreddy Rajasekhara Reddy.

She said in her statement that YS Vivekananda Reddy married her in 2010 and they were blessed with a son, Shahenshah, in 2015. According to her, YS Vivekananda Reddy also converted to Islam and accordingly changed his name to Mohammed Akbar. He used to diligently offer prayers as per the Islamic traditions.

Shameem also claimed that Dr Sunitha warned her over her relationship with her father and told her to stay away from him. According to her, YS Vivekananda Reddy had to endure severe financial troubles after his family stripped him of his cheque power. His family never accepted their marriage, she mentioned in her statement.

Throwing light on her relationship with the former minister, Shameem said that YS Vivekananda Reddy always used to visit her at her house alone without any of the gunmen accompanying him. Post their marriage, the former senior politician took her to Hyderabad where they spent some time in Shaikpet and Vanasthalipuram. Their trips to Hyderabad were mostly meant for shopping.

Adding another interesting twist, Shameem said in her statement that she was lodged at the house of a senior police officer during some of her visits to Hyderabad. She merely referred to the official as ‘DGP Reddy sir’ and did not disclose his full name and details.

The statement of Shameem, given to the CBI earlier, surfaces in the public domain at a critical time when the CBI is going full steam in its objective to wind up its investigation by April 30. Shameem’s earlier revelations also assume significance now as Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy too made similar claims insinuating that YS Vivekananda Reddy was murdered for gain and that the slain former minister had serious issues with his own family members.