Ex-Minister Murder Case: T’gana HC Grants Anticipatory Bail To YSRC MP Avinash Reddy

Telangana High Court on Wednesday granted anticipatory bail to ruling YSRC MP YS Avinash Reddy in connection with the murder of a former minister.

The honorable court directed Avinash Reddy to refrain from leaving the jurisdiction without obtaining prior permission from the Central Bureau of Investigation until the completion of the ongoing investigation.

Justice M Laxman’s in his order stated, “The petitioner is hereby instructed to wholeheartedly cooperate with the investigation and diligently present themselves before the CBI Police every Saturday, from 10 am to 5 pm, until the conclusion of June 2023. Additionally, the petitioner shall duly comply and appear as and when required for further investigative proceedings.”

Avinash Reddy, cousin of the esteemed Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, is under the scrutiny of the Central Bureau of Investigation in connection with the untimely demise of Vivekananda Reddy in March 2019.

Y S Vivekananda Reddy is the uncle of the accused.

Initially summoned to appear for questioning by the CBI on May 19, Avinash Reddy was unable to attend, citing his mother’s illness and her ongoing treatment at a medical facility as the compelling reason for his absence.

Subsequently, the investigating agency issued another notice to him, summoning his presence before them on May 22.

Avinash Reddy appeared before the CBI at least 5 times this year.

Following these appearances, the petitioner subsequently approached the esteemed Telangana High Court by filing an anticipatory bail petition.

Vivekananda Reddy, one of the brothers of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was found dead at his residence in Pulivendula, situated in the Kadapa district, on the fateful night of March 15, 2019, mere weeks preceding the State Assembly elections.

The initial investigation of the case was undertaken by a specialized team, namely the Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the state criminal investigation department, before being entrusted to the Central Bureau of Investigation in July 2020.

On October 26, 2021, the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) formally filed a charge sheet in relation to the murder case and then followed it up with a supplementary charge sheet on January 31, 2022.