No clear picture yet after 4 years of twists, turns in YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case

VIJAYAWADA: The murder of YS Vivekananda Reddy just before the 2019 elections had put the then ruling party TDP in the dock as the then opposition leader YS Jagan Mohan Reddy fired all his guns alleging that TDP president N Chandrababu Naidu was behind the murder of his uncle. Four years later, YSRCP is finding itself in the same position as that of TDP in 2019, with the ongoing investigation by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) pointing fingers towards the family members of CM Jagan Mohan Reddy.
With the arrest of YS Bhaskar Reddy, father of Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy who is also facing the same allegations of conspiring to kill Vivekananda Reddy, YSRCP is in complete defence now.The turn of events since the fateful night of March 15, 2019, clearly indicates a larger conspiracy behind the murder but the CBI which is racing against the clock is yet to unravel complete mystery.
Vivekananda Reddy, former minister and MP, and brother of former chief minister YS Rajasekhar Reddy and paternal uncle of present chief minister Jagan was found dead in a pool of blood inside his home at Pulivendula in Kadapa district on March 15, 2019. Initially, it was projected as natural death by heart attack by the YSRCP leaders despite the presence of severe injuries on the body. Even the police registered an FIR under Section 174 of CrPC as suspicious death.
More details started to come out by the evening of March 15, 2019 when the family members of Vivekananda Reddy reached Pulivendula from Hyderabad. By that time, the crime scene had already been sabotaged.
After it was confirmed that Vivekananda Reddy was murdered by hacking with a sharp object, the political slugfest began with allegations and counter allegations. Jagan alleged that his uncle was murdered as part of a conspiracy by the TDP to eliminate its political opponents. Jagan demanded a CBI inquiry and even filed a petition in the high court for the same.
Probe by Special Investigation Team (SIT) formed by AP police headed nowhere and in the meanwhile, elections concluded and YSRCP came to power with a thumping majority. Interestingly, after coming to power, Jagan withdrew his petition for CBI probe and revamped the SIT. However, there was no progress in the investigation. Then, Vivekananda Reddy’s wife Soubhagyamma, and daughter, Dr Sunitha, filed petitions before the high court seeking CBI inquiry and the high court ordered for a probe with CBI nearly after a year of the murder in March 2020.
The CBI took its time to investigate the case and arrested Sheik Dastagiri, Sunil Yadav, G Umashankar Reddy and Devireddy Siva Shankar Reddy in 2021. Dastagiri who was the former driver of Vivekananda Reddy later turned approver.
Based on his statement and other corroborating evidence collected, the CBI filed its first charge sheet naming Thumma Gangi Reddy and the four others arrested as accused in the case.
After filing of chargesheet, several attempts were made by the accused to get relief from the courts. They even lodged complaints against the CBI investigating officer Ram Singh and he had to move high court for quashing of FIR against him. Further investigation slowed down and it was then Dr Sunitha approached the Supreme Court seeking to transfer the case trial to some other state as many obstacles are being created in Andhra Pradesh.
Considering the petition of Sunitha, the SC transferred the case to Telangana.