In a dramatic turn of events, the Andhra Pradesh government has thrown its weight behind the demand of Sunitha Reddy, the daughter of former state minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, for the cancellation of bail granted to Kadapa MP and YSRCP leader Y.S. Avinash Reddy. This comes as the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into Vivekananda Reddy’s murder continues at a slow pace.
Vivekananda Reddy, a senior politician and member of the influential Reddy clan, was found dead at his residence in Pulivendula in 2019, just weeks before the state elections. The CBI took over the investigation after the Andhra Pradesh High Court ordered a probe by the central agency, but the case has made little progress so far.
Sunitha Reddy, who has been at the forefront of the demand for a fair investigation, has now found an unlikely ally in the Telugu Desam Party-led coalition government. This move is seen as a significant political development, as the YSRCP is the ruling party in Andhra Pradesh, and the CBI probe has faced allegations of slow progress and lack of progress.
The government’s decision to support Sunitha Reddy’s demand for the cancellation of Avinash Reddy’s bail is likely to add further pressure on the CBI to expedite the investigation and bring the perpetrators to justice. The case has become a political flashpoint in the state, with the opposition parties accusing the YSRCP government of shielding the alleged killers.
