Andhra: SC agrees to transfer probe into YS Vivekananda Reddy murder to another state

A Supreme Court bench comprising Justice MR Shah and Justice MM Sundresh held that the threat to the life of witnesses was enough ground for shifting the matter to another state, and a detailed order would be issued on Friday as to which state the case would be transferred.

Petition filed by daughter

The apex court bench was hearing the petition filed by Vivekananda Reddy’s daughter Dr Narreddy Suneetha Reddy, seeking a direction that the investigation be transferred to any other state, and that it should be monitored by a retired high court judge.

Arguing on behalf of Suneetha, senior counsel Siddharth Luthra told the apex court that the local MP, YS Avinash Reddy — also a relative of Chief Minister Jagan Reddy — was interfering in the process of investigation.

The CBI could not complete the investigation because of the hurdles created by Avinash Reddy, by influencing witnesses and local authorities, Luthra added.

Luthra further argued that the accused were also threatening the witnesses in the case. The local inspector, Shankaraiah, who was suspended for not conducting a proper inquiry at the time of the incident, was later given a promotion by the state government.

He also told the bench that the accused, who are currently in jail, were coming out on the pretext of ill health. They were holding “darbars” in the hospital and issuing threats to the witnesses, he said.

Even the CBI investigating officer was threatened and implicated in a false case. An FIR was also registered against him, Luthra said.

State’s counter argument

Arguing on behalf of the government, senior counsel S Niranjan Reddy said that the state was providing 1+1 security to the witness in the case, as per the directions given by a lower court.

During the arguments, CBI counsel KM Natarajan said that, in view of the special circumstances in Kadapa, they would need at least six months to complete the investigation.

After considering all the arguments, the Supreme Court bench observed that the threat to the life of witnesses was enough reason to transfer the matter to another state.

While Suneetha opted for either Telangana or Delhi, CBI opposed Telangana and said they do not have an objection if it was transferred to Karnataka.

Three SITs to probe murder

Until now, the Andhra Pradesh government has constituted three SITs to investigate the murder. They examined at least 1,300 witnesses and conducted a narco analysis on three suspects.

The CBI registered a case on July 9, 2020, on the orders of the Andhra Pradesh High Court and took over the investigation earlier registered at Pulivendula Police Station.

Since there was no progress in the case that was being investigated by the SIT, Suneetha approached the high court, seeking directions to hand over the probe to CBI.

Now she had approached the apex court seeking directions to shift the trial to another state.

In one of the charge sheets, the CBI is learnt to have said Kadapa MP Avinash Reddy propagated the theory that Viveka died due to a heart attack while the fact was that he was found in a pool of blood with injuries.

Jagan should be ashamed: TDP

TDP Politburo member Varla Ramaiah on Wednesday demanded the resignation of the Chief Minister Jagan Reddy as he was misusing his position to delay the investigation into the murder of his paternal uncle.

Varla Ramaiah told media persons at the TDP headquarters that Jagan Reddy should feel ashamed at the comments made by the Supreme Court. The chief minister is making every effort to dilute the murder case by misusing his power, he added.

Though it is more than three years and seven months since Vivekananda Reddy was killed, till now no measures have been initiated to bring the accused to book, he said.

It is a known fact that the state government is not cooperating with the CBI, which is investigating the case, and the local police, in fact, are trying to safeguard the accused, he said.

All these issues clearly indicate the active role of Jagan in neutralising the case, the TDP Politburo member added.