Telangana High Court directs CBI not to arrest Avinash till April 25

The court also suggested to the CBI to audio and video record questioning of Avinash Reddy. The final order on the anticipatory bail plea will be delivered on April 25. CBI court sent YS Bhaskar Reddy to CBI custody for six days

Hyderabad : The Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) not to arrest Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy in YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case till April 25.

In its interim order on anticipatory bail petition of the MP, the court directed him to appear before the CBI daily till April 25.

The court also suggested to the CBI to audio and video record questioning of Avinash Reddy. The final order on the anticipatory bail plea will be delivered on April 25.

The CBI informed the court that it will question Avinash Reddy in the presence of his father YS Bhaskar Reddy and another accused Uday Kumar Reddy.

Earlier, Avinash Reddy's counsel T Niranjan Reddy told the court that except the statement of Dastagiri, an accused turned approver in the case, the CBI had no evidence against Avinash. He contended that Google Takeout data can't be relied on during the investigation.

The CBI opposed the anticipatory bail on the ground that it has to collect more information from him and that he is an influential person. The CBI counsel also argued that Avinash Reddy had knowledge of murder conspiracy and it gathered scientific and technical evidence. He also clarified that there is no evidence of financial disputes or extramarital relations.

The MP fears arrest in the case as his father Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy was arrested in the case on Sunday. In its petition seeking custody of Bhaskar Reddy, the CBI had named Avinash Reddy as co-accused.

Meanwhile, the CBI court in Hyderabad on Tuesday sent Bhaskar Reddy and another accused Uday Kumar Reddy to CBI custody for six days. The accused are currently lodged in Chanchalguda Jail in Hyderabad. The CBI has directed Avinash Reddy to appear before it on Wednesday at 10.30 am.

The agency has conveyed to the court that it will question him in the presence of Bhaskar Reddy and Uday Kumar Reddy.

Avinash Reddy, cousin of Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, has been questioned by the CBI four times during the last couple of months.

Vivekananda Reddy, brother of former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and uncle of Jagan Mohan Reddy, was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula of Kadapa district on the night of March 15, 2019, a few days before the elections.