Viveka murder case: HC refuses bail plea of Bhaskar

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Monday rejected a plea for bail to Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy and Gajjela Uday Reddy — father and close aide respectively of Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy — in the Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy murder case.

Justice K. Lakshman dismissed their bail petitions on the ground that there was prima facie evidence against Bhaskar Reddy and Uday Reddy, to prove they are a part of the conspiracy in committing the murder of Vivekananda Reddy.

There was every chance of them destroying the evidence, as they are close relatives of AP Chief Minister as also of Avinash Reddy, the MP from Kadapa, the court observed.

The court also noted that they cannot be granted bail under the circumstances as two witnesses had already died in suspicious circumstances and some of the witnesses recused themselves to give statements recorded by a Magistrate under Section 164 CrPC. This, after they gave statements under Section 161 CrPC before the investigation agency.

“All the witnesses are from Andhra Pradesh and thus there is every possibility of the petitioners herein (Bhaskar Reddy and Uday Reddy) threatening/influencing the witnesses. In such an event, it may not be possible for the trial court to conduct the hearing in a fair and transparent manner.

“Therefore, the protection of witnesses and fairness of the trial have to be taken care of,” Justice Lakshman observed.

The court also pointed out that Uday Reddy, a close associate of Avinash Reddy and Bhaskar Reddy, was found to be active in the intervening night of 14/15, March, 2019 (the day of murder of Vivekananda) and he had visited the house of Kadapa MP several times.

He was having knowledge about the death of the deceased early in the morning, around 3.30 am – 4 am on March 15, 2019. He had prior knowledge of the conspiracy. In order to facilitate coordination among the co-accused, he had taken leave on March 15, 2019 by submitting a leave application on March 14, 2019.

“In the light of these circumstances, the court is not inclined to grant bails to these accused,” Justice Lakshman stated.