PNS|Vijayawada
Ruling YSRCP Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy on Thursday filed a writ petition in the Telangana High Court seeking a restraining order against any possible ‘coercive measures’ by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is probing the YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case.
The MP sought audio and video recording of his questioning by the CBI and in the presence of his advocate, a request he has repeatedly been making to the investigating agency. He stated that despite requesting several times that questioning be done in the presence of his advocate, the CBI has not obliged. The notice for questioning was issued under Section 160 CrPC. Avinash Reddy requested the High Court to pass directions restraining the CBI from taking any ‘coercive steps’.
According to reports, Avinash Reddy also raised his objection in his petition against the CBI not arresting Dastagiri, the A-4 accused in the YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case, so far. The CBI also did not oppose the anticipatory bail petition of Dastagiri. Even though there is no evidence against him, an attempt is being made to implicate in the case. The investigation by the agency is proceeding on Dastagiri’s statement, which was merely based on hearsay. The investigating officer is also altering the statements given during the questioning. The style of functioning of the investigating officer in the case smacks of prejudice, by Avinash Reddy as stated in his writ petition.
The Kadapa MP also expressed anguish that he was being portrayed as a culprit in the chargesheet even though the questioning was going on at the notice stage. Alleging that the CBI was not taking cognisance of the facts of the case, he sought the Telangana High Court’s directions to the CBI for a fair investigation. The Kadapa MP is scheduled to appear before the CBI in Hyderabad on March 10, 2023, (Friday) for questioning for the third time.
As per the earlier summons, YS Avinash Reddy was supposed to turn up at the CBI office in Hyderabad on March 6, 2023. However, the MP expressed his inability to appear before the agency, citing pre-scheduled official engagements on that day and requested for a postponement.
Agreeing to his request, the CBI served the fresh summons to him to be present for questioning on March 10 while ordering his father YS Bhaskar Reddy to face the grilling on March 12 in Pulivendula itself.
