YS Sunitha alleges YS Jagan delayed CBI enquiry in Viveka murder case

YS Sunitha started addressing the press by thanking APCC YS Sharmila, for standing with her from day one. She also thanked TDP chief Chandrababu Naidu, Jana Sena leader Pawan Kalyan, and MP Raghu Rama Krishnam Raju along with her family and the lawyers for their support in her fight for justice.

YS Sunitha said she was addressing the press today (Friday) to state the reasons behind the delay in the investigation of the YS Viveka murder case.

Speaking of the CBI inquiry, Sunitha said, she requested every leader, to take steps to speed up the investigation, to ensure justice.

“I first reached out to YS Jagan, as he is my brother and also the chief minister of the state. He first promised me he will do everything possible to deliver justice,” she adds.

Quoting YS Jagan, Sunitha says, “He said, ‘If I can’t solve the murder case of my uncle, what will people think? I will do everything in my capacity.'”

“When I requested for a CBI inquiry again, YS Jagan responded by saying, ‘If you go to CBI, Avinash Reddy will join the BJP’,” she said.

“Later on, I filed a petition to transfer the case to CBI, and he withdrew the petition filed previously,” Sunitha claimed.

Also Read: Dramatic events in Kurnool as CBI arrives to arrest Avinash Reddy

Trying to protect the accused?

Further alleging delay in investigation, YS Sunitha recalled the events of the day when CBI arrived in Kurnool to question YS Avinash Reddy.

On 22 May, 2023, a high-octane drama played out in Kurnool in Andhra Pradesh as CBI officials tried to detain Kadapa YSRCP MP YS Avinash Reddy and the latter tried his best to avoid arrest.

The CBI had sought measures from the police to prevent a breakdown of law and order in the event it finally arrested him.

Referring to the lack of support from the local police, Sunitha accused Jagan of protecting Avinash.

According to the CBI, “Further investigation into the broader conspiracy aspect revealed that YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, the current Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh, knew about the death of  YS Vivekanand Reddy early on 15 March 2019, much before MV Krishna Reddy publicly announced it around 06:15 A.M. on the same day.

It added: “As YS Avinash Reddy was actively involved both, before and after the murder, there is a need to investigate his role in informing YS Jagan Mohan Reddy about the death of YS Vivekananda Reddy.”

Criticising the Kadapa MP YS Avinash, Sunitha questioned, “As a representative of the place, your aim should be to reduce the crime, instead, you do nothing to even investigate when the crime happens?”

“He says he needs prior intimation to appear for CBI, does it ever happen that CBI wait for the accused?” Sunitha further questioned.

Also Read: Avinash Reddy, now accused No 8, was ‘arrested’, released on 3 June

The case

Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy’s paternal uncle Vivekananda Reddy — popularly known as Viveka — was murdered at his residence in Kadapa on the intervening night of 14 and 15 March, 2019.

Soon after Vivekananda Reddy’s death, Bhaskar Reddy and Avinash Reddy’s names figured in the murder case that created a sensation before the Assembly elections in Andhra Pradesh in 2019.

The probe agency believes he had spoken to the accused before and after the murder.

According to the CBI, the father and son hatched the plot to murder Vivekananda Reddy and sheltered the accused.

Their associate Devireddy Shiva Shankar Reddy played a crucial role in erasing evidence, the CBI said in a response filed before the court to oppose the bail of Sunil Yadav, who is an accused in the case.

The CBI also said that a ₹40 crore “supari” (contract to kill) was offered to the accused to eliminate Viveka.