SC issues notices to CBI, AP govt in Vivekananda murder case

ANANTAPUR: The Supreme Court on Monday issued notices to the CBI and the AP government in a petition filed by former MP YS Vivekananda Reddy’s daughter Dr Narreddy Sunitha seeking transfer of the case of murder of her father to a court outside AP – either Telangana or Delhi.

She said in support of her plea that the investigating officials in AP were facing harassment in the form of a series of cases being filed against them, while the witnesses were facing a threat to their lives. The three-year-long case of Vivekananda Reddy was being investigated by the CBI from its Kadapa district headquarters.

Siddarhta Luthra, counsel for Sunitha, told the apex court bench that the case could be speeded up by transferring it to a court in another state. He also told the court that there was no help from the state government to complete the investigations.

The Supreme Court bench consisting of Justice MR Shah and Justice Krishna Murthty served notices on the CBI and the AP government over the petition from. The case was posted to October 14.

Meanwhile, one of the accused, Shivashankar Reddy, approached the SC against denial of bail to him by the AP high court in view of objections raised by the CBI, which said he was threatening the witnesses in the murder case.

Abhishek Singh Manvi was defence counsel for Shivashankar Reddy. He informed the court that there was no evidence of Reddy threatening the witnesses.  First accused Erragangi Reddy and approver Dastagiri, former driver of Vivekananda Reddy, were on bail while the other accused were in judicial custody.

The CBI, on their part, has already expressed its difficulty to complete the investigation process in the murder case on similar grounds.

Notably, Sunitha and opposition Telugu Desam leaders are accusing Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy and his father of attempts at thwarting the course of justice. Avinash Reddy was acting as in-charge of the ruling party for chief minister’s home turf Puilvendula.