Avinash Reddy Gets Four-Day Breather From HC, Asks CBI Not To Arrest Him Till May 31

Hyderabad: In a relief to Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy, the Telangana High Court on Saturday directed the CBI not to arrest him till May 31 in the case related to the murder of Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy.

Justice M. Laxman, who headed the vacation court, gave these directions to Reddy’s anticipatory bail application. On the conclusion of the arguments, the court felt that it requires deeper scrutiny for the purpose of passing appropriate orders. It made it clear that its decision would be pronounced on Wednesday.

The Judge considered the petition’s contentions that his mother needed urgent surgery for blocked valves and hence was shifted to AIG Hospital in the city from Kurnool. Avinash submitted to the court that his father Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy is in jail in the same case and as their only son, he had to look after his mother.

Meanwhile, the CBI objected to the request and submitted that the authenticity of such a claim is not proved by any medical records. But, Justice Laxman said that if the statement of Avinash was proved false, then the court will take appropriate action against him.

However, CBI counsels Dr Anil Kompally and Ch. Anil Tanwar submitted that the investigation agency had evidence to prove that Avinash had conspired to eliminate Vivekananda Reddy to serve his political interests.

The CBI said that they had come to know that Vivekananda Reddy was against giving the Kadapa Lok Sabha ticket to Avinash Reddy. According to the CBI, one of the witnesses, whose “name could not be revealed at this point in time”, had given a statement that in protest Vivekananda Reddy was to quit YSRC and join the TD party. He wanted the ticket to be given to either Y.S. Vijayamma or Y.S. Sharmila.

When court inquired the authenticity of that submission, the CBI counsel read the recorded statement of the said witness in the open court, though it did not name the individual as there was a need to protect him.

When the court repeatedly inquired the authenticity of the witness, the CBI counsel said that they would give the name and the statement of the witness in a sealed cover.

The judge posed a series of questions and asked the CBI why it did not suspect the involvement of Avinash Reddy last November, when the witness had given a statement and when it had WhatsApp call evidence.

He wanted to know why there was a need to eliminate Vivekananda Reddy, when Avinash Reddy wielded more influence than the former.

Justice Laxman opined that there was a need for deeper scrutiny of the material that has been filed and the statements that have been recorded.