CBI may submit status report on July 3
PNS|Vijayawada
The deadline set by the Supreme Court for the completion of investigation into the murder of former Andhra Pradesh minister YS Vivekananda Reddy is reaching its conclusion on Friday (June 30). The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is expected to present a report to the Supreme Court regarding the progress of the investigation on July 3, requesting an extension to finalise the probe.
Simultaneously, on the same day, the Supreme Court is scheduled to hear the plea filed by Suneetha Reddy, the daughter of Vivekananda Reddy, seeking the revocation of the anticipatory bail granted to YSRCP Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy by the TS High Court.
The CBI is also expected to file an additional charge sheet against YS Bhaskar Reddy, father of Avinash Reddy, along with a few others.
Bhaskar Reddy’s associate was apprehended by the CBI on April 14, followed by the arrest of Bhaskar Reddy himself on April 16. They are presently in judicial custody. Initially, the deadline for completing the investigation was April 30; however, upon the CBI’s request, the Supreme Court granted a two-month extension. Another noteworthy development will be whether prime accused Yerra Gangi Reddy is released on bail on July 1.
On April 27, the Telangana High Court cancelled his bail, leading him to surrender to the CBI court as per the court’s directive. The High Court ruled that as the CBI was scheduled to conclude the hearing on June 30, Gangi Reddy may be granted bail on July 1, provided he furnishes a personal bond of Rs 1.50 lakh.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) of the Andhra Pradesh Police, which was previously handling the murder case, arrested Gangi Reddy on March 28, 2019. However, due to the SIT’s failure to file a charge sheet within the specified period, he was granted default bail by a local court in Pulivendula on June 27, 2019.
Avinash Reddy was granted anticipatory bail by the Telangana High Court on May 31. As per the court’s instructions, he was required to appear before the CBI police every Saturday from 10 am to 5 pm until the end of June 2023. The Telangana High Court also ruled that in the event of his arrest by the CBI, Avinash Reddy would be released on bail upon executing a personal bond of Rs 5 lakh, with two sureties of the same amount each. On June 3, when Avinash Reddy visited the CBI office, he was arrested but promptly released on bail after completing the necessary formalities in accordance with the High Court’s order.
On June 8, the CBI informed the court that Avinash Reddy had been included as the eighth accused in the case.
