ED searches six premises in Vivekananda Reddy murder money trail probe
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted searches at six locations in Kadapa and Hyderabad linked to the murder case of former Member of Parliament Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy. The searches, carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), were part of an ongoing probe into alleged financial dealings connected to the killing.
The premises of Devireddy Sivasankar Reddy, Yerra Gangi Reddy, and Sunil Yadav, all named as accused in the case, were raided. The house of Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy, father of Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy, was initially found locked. Officials summoned his relatives to open the house before beginning the search.
According to official sources, the searches stem from the First Information Reports and charge sheets filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in the murder investigation. The ED is examining the movement of funds and alleged financial transactions linked to the case. The CBI's charge sheets include a claim of a ₹40 crore contract killing, based on the statement of an accused-turned-approver, Shaik Dastagiri. The agency is now tracing that money trail, and under the PMLA, the ED can attach assets if it establishes the proceeds of crime.
Y.S. Avinash Reddy was questioned by the CBI in 2023 in connection with the murder and later secured anticipatory bail from the Telangana High Court. His father, Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy, was arrested by the CBI on April 16, 2023, on allegations of involvement in the conspiracy. Both have denied any wrongdoing.
The case dates back to March 2019, when Vivekananda Reddy, brother of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and uncle of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was found dead at his residence in Pulivendula, Kadapa district. The death was initially described as a heart attack, weeks before the 2019 general election. The collapse of that cover-up turned the incident into a major legal and political issue, with both the YSRCP and the TDP using it as a rallying point.
Following a sustained campaign by Vivekananda Reddy's daughter, Suneetha Narreddy, for an independent investigation, the case was transferred to the CBI in 2020. The Supreme Court later shifted the trial to Telangana to ensure a fair process.
The ED's action on Friday is a continuation of the legal process, focusing on the alleged financial dimensions of the crime. The agency is expected to file further submissions based on the findings from these searches. No arrests have been reported in connection with Friday's operation.
