Supreme Court serves notice to Avinash over Sunitha's petition

ANANTAPUR: The Supreme Court on Monday served notices to Kadapa MP, Y.S. Avinash Reddy, and to the CBI in connection with a petition filed by Dr N. Sunitha against the grant of anticipatory bail to him by the TS high court in the Viveka murder case.

The Supreme Court Bench comprising justices Vikram Nath and Ahsanuddin  Amanullah posted the case to July 3. The contentions in the petition will be probed by Chief Justice D.Y. Chandrachud.

Sunitha had to argue the case in person during the last session after the SC bench refused to allow senior counsels to argue the cases at the summer vacation bench.

However, the SC vacation bench permitted Sunitha’s counsel Siddarth Luthra to assist the petitioner and argue the case on Monday.

As Sunitha approached the Supreme Court against grant of anticipatory bail to Avinash Reddy on May 31, the petition was allowed in the summer vacation bench and Sunitha had to argue the case in person in the last session.

On Monday, the Supreme Court bench served notices to Avniash Reddy and CBI over the petition from Sunitha seeking cancellation of the bail. She submitted that the MP would influence the witnesses in the case.

Further, the CBI has to complete the investigation by June 30, as per the deadline put by the Supreme Court.

According to Sunitha, the Kadapa MP was not cooperating with the CBI probe and hence she sought a custodial probe of the MP to extract facts in the case.

The Supreme Court bench posted the case to July 3 after serving notices to Avinash Reddy and the CBI. The case will be taken up at the bench of the CJI.