Supreme Court stays TS HC order in Viveka murder case
However, the apex court directed CBI not to arrest Avinash Reddy till Monday; the matter is posted for hearing on April 24
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Observing that an “atrocious and unacceptable” order was passed by the high court, a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha issued notice on the plea challenging protection to Reddy. The apex court also directed CBI not to arrest Avinash Reddy till Monday
New Delhi: Terming it “atrocious and unacceptable,” the Supreme Court on Friday stayed the Telangana High Court order granting protection from arrest till April 25 to YSR Congress Party Lok Sabha member Y S Avinash Reddy in the murder of his uncle and former Andhra Pradesh Minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy. The top court also stayed the high court order directing the CBI to give a questionnaire to Avinash Reddy in connection with the probe.
Observing that an “atrocious and unacceptable” order was passed by the high court, a bench of Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud and Justice P S Narasimha issued notice on the plea challenging protection to Reddy. The apex court also directed CBI not to arrest Avinash Reddy till Monday. “Issue notice. There shall be a stay of the impugned directions contained in paragraph 18 of the impugned order of the High Court. However, till Monday the CBI shall not arrest him,” the bench said while posting the matter for hearing on April 24.
The top court was hearing a plea filed by Dr Suneetha Narreddy, daughter Y S Vivekananda Reddy, challenging the high court order. Senior advocate Siddharth Luthra, appearing for Suneetha, said the investigation was transferred from Andhra Pradesh to Hyderabad in Telangana due to political patronage being enjoyed by the accused lawmaker.
When the apex court said it was inclined to stay the high court order, senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Avinash Reddy, said his client was sitting with CBI and may be arrested due to this order.
Vivekananda Reddy, one of the brothers of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula in Kadapa district, on the night of March 15, 2019, weeks before the Assembly elections in the state. Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, the son of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy and a cousin of Avinash Reddy, is currently the chief minister of Andhra Pradesh.
