Suneetha Reddy, the daughter of former Kadapa Member of Parliament YS Vivekananda Reddy, has moved the Supreme Court against the original complainant in the case and his PA, Krishna Reddy.
A bench of Justice Krishna Murari and Justice PV Sanjay Kumar granted Suneetha’s application for impleadment in the petition in which Krishna Reddy sought clarification of an earlier order that he is a ‘victim’ who is entitled to challenge the grant of pardon to the accused in the case.
The bench issued notice to the Central Bureau Investigation (CBI) and the matter will now be heard on 3rd June, 2023.
Suneetha Reddy’s application, filed through advocate Jesal Wahi, claimed that Krishna Reddy was attempting to portray himself as the victim despite having a role in the crime.
Krishna Reddy had informed the Top Court earlier this week that he was challenging the pardon granted to one of the co-accused.
Suneetha claimed in her application that the complainant’s plea was filed at the request of the accused in order to prevent an investigation.
Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra, appearing for Suneetha, stressed that only she and her mother can be considered ‘victims’ under the law.
Following Advocate Luthra’s mention, the application was accepted.
In March 2019, Vivekananda Reddy was stabbed to death at his home in Kadapa. The Andhra Pradesh High Court delegated the investigation into the murder to the CBI in 2020.
The trial in the murder case was transferred to a Special CBI Court in Hyderabad by the Supreme Court in November.
Meanwhile, another Top Court bench issued notice in Suneetha’s petition challenging the Telangana High Court’s grant of regular bail to the accused in the murder, T Gangi Reddy.
Gangi Reddy’s default bail was revoked by the Supreme Court in January of this year.
In that decision, it was held that the release of an accused person on default bail does not preclude the court from hearing a merits-based plea for bail cancellation after the chargesheet is presented.
The case had been remanded to the High Court for further consideration on the merits. Following that, the High Court granted regular bail.
