YSR Congress Party president and former Andhra Pradesh chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy appears to be virtually out of the investigation into the murder of his uncle and former minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy seven years ago.
The development comes as a major relief for Jagan, as his sister Y S Sharmila and cousin Dr N Sunitha Reddy, Vivekananda Reddy’s daughter, have alleged that the murder took place with the knowledge of Jagan and his wife, Bharathi Reddy.
The Special CBI Court in Hyderabad dismissed a protest petition filed by Sunitha seeking a further investigation into her father’s murder and a deeper probe into the alleged conspiracy behind the crime.
The court held that there was no need to expand the investigation to include additional suspects.
The dismissal is a major legal setback for Sunitha, who had repeatedly demanded that Jagan be questioned in connection with the case.
Although her petition did not seek to name him as an accused, she argued that political interference had delayed the investigation and prevented the complete truth from emerging.
In her submissions, Sunitha said Jagan had demanded a CBI investigation into Vivekananda Reddy’s murder while serving as Leader of the Opposition, but later withdrew the demand after becoming chief minister.
She further alleged that some relatives who were subsequently named as accused had received political protection, which slowed the progress of the investigation.
Sunitha maintained that the full truth behind the murder would emerge only if Jagan and Bharathi Reddy were also questioned.
With the Special CBI Court rejecting her plea, attention is now expected to shift to the trial. The court will proceed with framing charges against the accused before beginning the full-fledged trial, which will involve the examination of witnesses and scrutiny of evidence.
While Jagan appears to have received relief from any further questioning, the trial will continue against his cousin and Kadapa MP Y. S. Avinash Reddy.
The CBI has named 10 individuals in its chargesheet: A1-Tummalapalli Gangireddy (Erra Gangireddy); A2-Yadati Sunil Yadav; A3- Gajjala Umashankar Reddy; A4-Shaik Dastagiri (later turned approver); A5- Devireddy Shivashankar Reddy; A6-Gajjala Uday Kumar Reddy; A7-Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy; A8-Kadapa MP Y S Avinash Reddy; A9 – M V Krishna Reddy, personal assistant to Vivekananda Reddy and A10 - Yedula Prakash.
According to the CBI, the chargesheet includes both the alleged executors of the murder and those suspected of being part of the conspiracy.
Avinash Reddy is currently on anticipatory bail, while his father, Bhaskar Reddy, is on regular bail. Devireddy Shivashankar Reddy, who was arrested by the CBI in 2021, has also been granted conditional regular bail.
However, alleged prime accused Tummalapalli Gangireddy remains in judicial custody after earlier relief orders were set aside or stayed.
Yadati Sunil Yadav, Gajjala Umashankar Reddy and Gajjala Uday Kumar Reddy also continue to remain in judicial custody after courts repeatedly rejected their bail pleas, citing the seriousness of the allegations.
Shaik Dastagiri, who was initially named as an accused, later turned approver. The CBI now considers him one of its key prosecution witnesses after he allegedly provided crucial information about the conspiracy and execution of the murder.
