Published Aug 21, 2026 | 6:50 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 21, 2026 | 6:50 PM
YS Vivekananda Reddy was hacked to death in 2019.
Synopsis: The Enforcement Directorate conducted searches at seven locations in Hyderabad and Kadapa in a money-laundering investigation connected to the 2019 murder of YS Vivekananda Reddy. It said it seized incriminating documents and digital devices, along with ₹24 lakh in unaccounted cash and two locker keys from the premises of Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy, a key accused in the murder case.
The Enforcement Directorate on Friday, 21 August, conducted searches at seven locations across Hyderabad in Telangana and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh in connection with its money-laundering probe into the 2019 murder of former Andhra Pradesh Minister and MP YS Vivekananda Reddy, the paternal uncle of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The searches, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act, 2002, resulted in the seizure of incriminating documents and digital devices, the agency said. It also recovered and seized ₹24 lakh in unaccounted cash and two locker keys from the premises of Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy, who is among the accused in the murder case.
The ED registered its money-laundering case on the basis of the FIR and three chargesheets filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation, which investigated the murder under Sections 302 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code. The offences are scheduled offences under the PMLA.
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Vivekananda Reddy was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula on 15 March 2019. The Andhra Pradesh High Court, in an order dated 11 March 2020, directed the CBI to conduct further investigation.
After its investigation, the CBI filed three chargesheets naming YS Avinash Reddy, his father YS Bhaskar Reddy, D Shiva Shankar Reddy, T Gangi Reddy, Y Sunil Yadav and others as accused.
According to the CBI chargesheet, D Shiva Shankar Reddy, described as a political functionary of the YSR Congress Party, and his close associates, Avinash Reddy and Bhaskar Reddy, were unhappy with Vivekananda Reddy joining the party because his growing political influence could challenge theirs. The chargesheet alleged that they hatched a criminal conspiracy to eliminate him and involved members of his staff, including T Gangi Reddy, Shaik Dastagiri and Y Sunil Yadav.
Shaik Dastagiri later turned approver and was granted pardon by the Special CBI Court. He disclosed that the conspiracy to murder Vivekananda Reddy was hatched about a month before the killing, the ED said
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The ED said the searches on Friday were conducted at the residential premises of key accused in Hyderabad and Kadapa as part of its investigation into the financial trail connected to the alleged conspiracy.
According to the ED, Dastagiri stated that Gangi Reddy had told him that D Shiva Shankar Reddy and some senior politicians were involved in the murder plan and that ₹40 crore would be paid for the killing. The agency said Gangi Reddy induced Dastagiri with a promise of ₹5 crore as his share of the ₹40 crore.
Dastagiri also admitted that he had received ₹1 crore from Y Sunil Yadav, who retained ₹25 lakh from the amount, the ED said. Dastagiri gave the remaining ₹75 lakh to his friend Syed Munna. During its investigation, the CBI recovered and seized ₹46.70 lakh in cash and unaccounted jewellery from lockers belonging to Syed Munna and his mother.
Further investigation is under progress.
