Vivekananda Reddy murder case: TDP raises pitch, asks CBI to net political bigwigs

Amaravati: TDP has urged the CBI to bring all the political bigwigs involved in the murder of former Andhra Pradesh Minister YS Vivekananda Reddy to book.

This follows the supplementary charge sheet filed by the CBI on January 31. The CBI had filed the main charge sheet on October 26, 2021. The charge sheet was made public on February 15.

Addressing a press conference, former TDP MLA Bonda Umamaheswara Rao said all possible efforts were made to portray the murder of Vivekananda Reddy as a natural death. CM Jagan Reddy used the murder of his family member to reap political benefits in the 2019 election.

Bonda Uma accused CM Jagan of misusing his power to influence the murder investigation. "Jagan Reddy first blamed the political opponents but later started suppressing the probe. For the last three years, Jagan Reddy has made every possible effort to save Sitting Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy, who is his cousin. Every time he met PM Modi and Union Home minister Amit Shah, Jagan Reddy pleaded to save Avinash Reddy and himself from the Viveka murder probe. The latest CBI charge sheet had given clear indications about the real culprits involved in the murder", said Uma.

As per the charge sheet, MP Avinash Reddy and Devireddy Shankar Reddy were the first to enter Viveka's residence at 6 AM after the murder. Suspiciously, Viveka's PA told the Kadapa district SP over the phone that he vomited blood and died. Immediately, news spread that he died of a heart attack. The CBI is investigating the role of sitting Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy in the murder case.

TDP leader pointed out that the Viveka murder was confirmed only after his family members and the police officials visited the spot.

"False reports were spread prior to their arrival. It was clear that culprits murdered Viveka under a premeditated plan and then started protecting the killers. Only in that process, they leveled false allegations against TDP chief N Chandrababu Naidu and Nara Lokesh," he said.

Bonda Uma said the Viveka murder probe was enough to describe how 'hardcore criminals' were ruling the state. "While Avinash Reddy gave Rs. 40 crore to the killers, Jagan Reddy used his power to protect the accused and suspects. All the accused persons including Gangi Reddy, Devireddy Shankar Reddy, Sunil Yadav, Umashankar Reddy, and Viveka ex-driver Dastagiri, were followers of Avinash Reddy," he said.

TDP questioned why Jagan was not able to give any reason for the withdrawal of his petition for the CBI probe in the court. After the murder, Jagan Reddy did not immediately come to Pulivendula. Instead, he came to the murder spot by road belatedly after traveling for 10-15 hours, he said.