YS Vivekananda Reddy murder: Supreme Court seeks response from YS Avinash Reddy in appeal challenging his anticipatory bail

The Supreme Court on Monday issued notice to the Telangana government and Kadapa Member of Parliament (MP) YS Avinash Reddy in a petition challenging grant of anticipatory bail to Reddy in connection with the murder of former MP YS Vivekananda Reddy [Dr Suneetha Narreddy vs YS Avinash Reddy and anr]..A vacation bench of Justices Surya Kant and MM Sundresh proceeded to list the matter for hearing on July 3 along with a connected matter..The top court was hearing a plea by Suneetha Narreddy, daughter of late YS Vivekananda Reddy.Suneeta moved the apex court challenging a Telangana High Court order that had granted anticipatory bail to Avinash Reddy in connection with the case registered for his alleged involvement in Vivekananda Reddy's murder.The High Court had stated that there was no direct evidence available against Avinash Reddy to prove his participation in the larger conspiracy and that the entire case rested upon hearsay evidence.In the appeal before the Supreme Court, Suneetha contended that the High Court held a mini-trial and commented on the merits of the case. Further, the accused, being an MP, is in a position to threaten witnesses, Suneeta submitted. The accused had also not cooperated with the probe agency earlier, the Court was told. .Suneetha Reddy has also moved the top court against her late father's former personal assistant. In that plea, she has alleged that the former assistant, Krishna Reddy, was trying to portray himself as the victim even though he had a role to play in the crime..Vivekananda Reddy, a former Kadapa MP, was stabbed to death at his residence in March 2019. In 2020, the Andhra Pradesh High Court transferred the investigation into the murder to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI).The Supreme Court, in November, transferred the trial in the murder case to a Special CBI Court in Hyderabad. The Supreme Court had earlier taken exception to the High Court failing to decide on Avinash Reddy's bail plea, despite orders passed by it on the issue. It proceeded to direct a vacation bench of the Telangana High Court to decide on the plea, pursuant to which it was heard and anticipatory bail was granted.