Bhaskara Reddy main conspirator in Viveka murder case: CBI

As the main accused in YS Viveka murder case visited Bhaskara Reddy's house before and after the murder and Bhaskara Reddy along with his son and MP Avinash Reddy personally supervised the destruction of evidence at the crime scene, the CBI concluded that Bhaskara Reddy is the main conspirator in the case.

Hyderabad: The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) that has arrested Y S Bhaskara Reddy, father of YSRCP MP Avinash Reddy in connection with the high profile murder Vivekananda Reddy said that Y S Bhaskara Reddy was involved in planning and conspiring Viveka's murder. In addition, Bhaskara Reddy who has been given a judicial custody for 10 days has also been accused of destroying evidence.

The incident – one of the most high-profile murder in Andhra Pradesh happened on March 15, 2019, when Vivekananda Reddy, brother of late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and uncle of Jagan Reddy, was found dead at his residence in Pulivendula, just weeks before the state assembly elections.

According to the CBI, both Y S Bhaskara Reddy and Avinash Reddy were involved in planning the murder. Bhaskara Reddy was arrested and sent to 10 days of judicial remand. The CBI considered Bhaskara Reddy as the main conspirator based on various aspects of the case investigation and especially accused turned approver Sheikh Dastagiri.

Dastagiri testified to the CBI that the plan for Viveka's murder was formed on February 10, 2019, at Erra Gangireddy's house. Dastagiri claimed that YS Bhaskara Reddy, YS Avinash Reddy, YS Manohar Reddy, and Devi Reddy Sivashankar Reddy were behind the plan. Sivashankar Reddy allegedly promised Dastagiri Rs 40 crores if he carried out the murder.

The CBI used Google take-out to conclude that Sunil Yadav, the second accused in the case, was in the house of YS Bhaskara Reddy a few hours before Viveka's murder on March 14, 2019, from 6:14 pm to 6:33 pm. The same was confirmed in the forensic analysis. The CBI investigation concluded that Sunil Yadav waited at the house of YS Bhaskara Reddy for Sheikh Dastagiri, who had gone to Kadiri to buy an axe to kill Viveka.

On the same day, Erra Gangireddy, the main accused, called Sunil Yadav twice at 6:22 pm while participating in the election campaign with Viveka in the Jammalamadugu constituency and returning to Pulivendula. Dastagiri, who had gone for the axe, reached Pulivendula at 8:30 pm and met Sunil Yadav who was already waiting for him. According to the plan YS Bhaskara Reddy switched off his two phones.

According to CBI, Yadati Sunil Yadav, Gajjala Umashankar Reddy, Sheikh Dastagiri, and Erra Gangireddy hacked Viveka with an axe and killed him. Sunil Yadav repeatedly visited the house of Bhaskara Reddy until a few hours before Viveka's murder, CBI concluded. As per the plan, PA Krishna Reddy, Devireddy Sivashankar Reddy, Udaykumar Reddy, and other close friends reached the spot immediately after the murder to destroy evidence.

At the same time, YS Bhaskara Reddy, YS Manohar Reddy, Erra Gangireddy, and others also reached the place, the CBI said. The CBI stated that the destruction of the evidence at the scene of the murder and the promotion of the death of Viveka due to a heart attack were all done in the presence of MP Avinash Reddy, Bhaskara Reddy, Sivashankar Reddy, Udaykumar Reddy, and Gangire.

According to sources in the CBI YS Bhaskara Reddy and YS Avinash Reddy were supervising the destruction of evidence at the scene of Viveka's murder, in an effort to portray it as a natural death. Bhaskara Reddy reportedly closed the door to prevent anyone from entering Viveka's house, while only the staff who were cleaning the bloodstains and bandaging the wounds were allowed inside.

Avinash Reddy went in and out of the house two or three times during this process. The body was then bandaged, placed in a freezer, and decorated with flowers before being sent to the hospital. The CBI has concluded that this was all done to conceal the murder conspiracy.

According to CBI the murder was a result of the political controversy. The premiere agency conferred that prior to his death, Viveka had confronted Avinash Reddy, Bhaskara Reddy, and Devi Reddy Sivashankar Reddy, accusing them of cheating him in the 2017 MLC election. He had warned them that he knew everything and threatened to expose them all. This led to differences between them, and the CBI believes that Bhaskara Reddy and Sivashankar Reddy conspired to kill Viveka as a result.