Viveka murder case: Telangana HC posts Avinash Reddy anticipatory plea to 28 April even as video goes viral

Subsequently, the CBI made Dastagiri an approver and did not oppose his bail petition.

The counsel argued that Dastagiri was forced to name Avinash Reddy and admit to whatever the CBI said.

“Merits were not considered in Dastagiri’s bail,” the counsel said, adding that accusations were being made against Avinash based on hearsay.

In Dastagiri’s first statement, he mentioned only the names of five people, including Y Gangi Reddy. Later, in another statement, he brought new names to the fore.

The CBI has no evidence to suspect Avinash Reddy, counsel argued.

Also read: SC sets aside Telangana HC anticipatory bail order of Avinash Reddy

Postposing the bail hearing 

Responding to the anticipatory petition filed by Avinash, the court, in its interim order given on 18 April, directed the CBI not to arrest him till 25 April and asked him to appear for questioning as and when the CBI called him.

The court also asked the CBI to prepare a questionnaire to grill Avinash Reddy and directed the probe agency to ensure audio and video recording of the entire proceedings and the same should be submitted to the court.

It then said that final orders would be passed based on the report by the CBI after questioning the petitioner.

Recounting of the incident

Meanwhile, Avinash’s video went viral on social media platforms in which he questioned Vivekananda’s daughter and son-in-law as to why they hid the suicide letter left by Vivekananda and why they had not handed it over to the police.

Avinash, arguing that he was not guilty of assassinating his uncle, said that he rushed to Vivekananda’s residence after receiving a call from Rajasekhara Reddy’s brother Siva Prakash Reddy, on the fateful day of 15 March 2019, while he was on his way to Jammalamadugu to attend a party programme at dawn.

Avinash said that he immediately rushed to his uncle’s residence and found him in a pool of blood and the room had blood stains all over. He allegedly did not know that by the time he arrived, the letter that Viveka had left behind and his phone were hidden somewhere by his daughter and son-in-law.

In the letter, Viveka had said that his driver was hacking him and that he should not go scot-free.

Avinash said that it was he who had called the police at around 6:45 am, while Vivekananda’s body was discovered at 6:10 am.

Also Read: Telangana HC directs CBI not to arrest Avinash Reddy till 25 April

Suspicious circumstances

He also said that he did not understand how the CBI could rely on the statement of a hired killer, who turned into an approver, as gospel truth at a time when courts had said that testimony of such people should be viewed with extreme suspicion. He said that if one could kill someone for money, he could, for the same money, say whatever he is tutored to say.

When he came to know about the letter, he had asked Rajasekhar Reddy, but was allegedly met with an evasive reply.

“He said that the driver was a nice man and if the letter was found, the police might suspect him,” Avinash said. He argued that there can be nothing more ridiculous than not trusting Vivekananda’s letter and trusting the driver, who allegedly killed him.

He said that he did not understand why the CBI was not focusing on the letter and said that he did not understand who the CBI was trying to protect. He said that the CBI had given several opportunities to Vivekananda’s daughter Sunitha to revise her allegedly false statement.

Also Read: Avinash Reddy files anticipatory bail petition in the Telangana HC