New Delhi: In a significant development, the Supreme Court has directed the vacation bench of the Telangana High Court to prioritize the anticipatory bail petition filed by Andhra Pradesh lawmaker YS Avinash Reddy in connection with the 2019 murder case of his uncle and former state minister YS Vivekananda Reddy. Expressing dissatisfaction over the delay in deciding the bail plea, the apex court has instructed the high court to hear the matter on May 25 and issue necessary orders after considering all parties involved.
Avinash Reddy, who represents the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat for the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), approached the Supreme Court seeking direction to expedite the hearing of his case, fearing imminent arrest. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), which is investigating the murder case and the larger conspiracy behind it, had issued multiple notices to the lawmaker for investigation purposes, but he failed to appear on all occasions.
The Supreme Court had previously set aside an order that stayed Avinash Reddy’s arrest and directed the high court to first decide on his anticipatory bail. However, the court noted that despite its instructions, the high court had not yet ruled on the bail plea, expressing its dissatisfaction with the delay. The investigation in the case is expected to conclude by June 30, as per the timeline set by the top court.
Supreme Court Urges High Court to Expedite MP’s Pre-Arrest Bail Plea in 2019 Murder Case
The murder case of former lawmaker YS Vivekananda Reddy, who was found killed at his home in Pulivendula, Kadapa district, in March 2019, saw the CBI name four accused in its charge sheet. Avinash Reddy’s name was separately added as a suspect. In November last year, the Supreme Court directed the trial to be moved from Kadapa to Hyderabad due to concerns raised by the deceased’s family regarding a fair trial, citing the close association between the Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Avinash Reddy.
The recent attempt by CBI officials to arrest Avinash Reddy at the Vishwa Bharati Hospital in Kurnool was met with resistance from hundreds of his supporters, creating a law-and-order situation. The Supreme Court expressed its disappointment over the lawmaker’s lack of cooperation with the CBI probe. Avinash Reddy’s application for anticipatory bail was opposed by Suneetha Narreddy, the daughter of the deceased former MP. The top court had earlier set aside a high court order that required the CBI to provide a written questionnaire to Avinash Reddy before summoning him for questioning, considering it an obstruction to the investigation.
Following the Supreme Court’s directive, the CBI decided to wait for the vacation bench of the high court to hear the bail petition before taking further action. Meanwhile, YSR Congress Party leaders and workers gathered in Kurnool to show support for Avinash Reddy and prevent his arrest. The party members expressed concern for the health of Avinash Reddy’s mother, who is currently undergoing treatment for a heart ailment.
As the YSR Congress Party came to power in Andhra Pradesh in 2019, a Special Investigation Team (SIT) was formed to investigate the murder case. Dissatisfied with the progress of the probe, the Telangana High Court directed the CBI to take over the investigation based on a petition filed by Suneetha Narreddy.
In conclusion, the Supreme Court’s directive to expedite the hearing of Avinash Reddy’s anticipatory bail plea reflects the urgency to address the murder case and the need for a swift resolution. The court’s dissatisfaction with the delay emphasizes the importance of timely justice delivery and the fair investigation ofsuch grave offenses.
Supreme Court Urges High Court to Expedite MP’s Pre-Arrest Bail Plea in 2019 Murder Case
New Delhi: The Supreme Court has issued a strong directive to the vacation bench of the Telangana High Court, instructing them to expedite the anticipatory bail petition of Andhra Pradesh lawmaker YS Avinash Reddy in connection with the 2019 murder case of his uncle and former state minister YS Vivekananda Reddy. Expressing dissatisfaction with the delayed proceedings, the apex court has directed the high court to hear the case on May 25 and issue necessary orders after considering all parties involved.
Avinash Reddy, who represents the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat for the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), approached the Supreme Court seeking immediate action to prevent his arrest. He expressed concerns about the impending arrest in the case and requested the top court to direct the high court’s vacation bench to prioritize his matter.
The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), responsible for investigating the murder case and the larger conspiracy surrounding it, had issued three notices to Avinash Reddy, urging him to cooperate with the investigation. However, he failed to appear on all three occasions, raising further suspicion.
The Supreme Court had previously nullified an order that stayed Avinash Reddy’s arrest and directed the high court to first decide on his anticipatory bail plea. However, the court expressed its disappointment with the high court’s delayed judgment on the matter. The apex court stressed the urgency of the situation as the investigation in the case is expected to conclude by June 30, adhering to the timeline set by the top court.
The murder case of former lawmaker YS Vivekananda Reddy, who was found dead at his residence in Pulivendula, Kadapa district, in March 2019, resulted in the CBI naming four accused in its charge sheet. Avinash Reddy’s name was separately added as a suspect. Last year, the Supreme Court ordered the trial to be shifted from Kadapa to Hyderabad due to concerns raised by the deceased’s family regarding a fair trial, citing the close association between the Andhra Pradesh chief minister and Avinash Reddy.
Recent attempts by CBI officials to arrest Avinash Reddy at the Vishwa Bharati Hospital in Kurnool were met with strong resistance from hundreds of his supporters, leading to a law-and-order situation. The Supreme Court expressed its disappointment over Avinash Reddy’s lack of cooperation with the CBI probe. Avinash Reddy’s application for anticipatory bail was opposed by Suneetha Narreddy, the daughter of the deceased former MP. The top court had previously set aside a high court order that required the CBI to provide a written questionnaire to Avinash Reddy before summoning him for questioning, deeming it an obstruction to the investigation.
