The Enforcement Directorate (ED) seized Rs 24 lakh unaccounted cash and two locker keys belonging to YSRCP MP YS Avinash Reddy during searches in a money laundering case linked to the murder of former Andhra Pradesh minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday seized unaccounted cash of Rs 24 lakh and two locker keys of the YSRCP Lok Sabha MP YS Avinash Reddy during searches carried out at seven premises in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana in a money laundering case linked to the murder of former Andhra Pradesh minister and MP Y S Vivekananda Reddy.
In the searches, being carried out in Hyderabad in Telangana and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at the residential premises of the key accused, ED's Hyderabad zonal office also seized incriminating documents and digital devices.
Case Background and CBI Investigation
Vivekananda Reddy, paternal uncle of ex-Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy and a popular political leader (ex-MLA, ex-MP) from Kadapa, was found murdered on March 15, 2019, at his residence.
The High Court of Andhra Pradesh (vide its order dated March 11, 2020) directed the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct further investigation. The CBI registered a First Information Report (FIR) in the case and filed three chargesheets in the matter upon conducting a substantial investigation, wherein Avinash Reddy, Y S Bhaskar Reddy, D Shiva Shankar Reddy, T Gangi Reddy, Y Sunil Yadav and others were arrayed as accused.
Motive and Conspiracy Details
The CBI chargesheet revealed that D Siva Shanker Reddy (a political functionary of the YSRCP) and his close associates Avinash Reddy and his father Y S Bhaskar Reddy were unhappy when Vivekanand Reddy joined YSRCP, as their increasing influence in politics could have been challenged.
"So, to eliminate him, they hatched a criminal conspiracy and included his staff, including T Gangi Reddy, Shaik Dastagiri and Y Sunil Yadav," said the ED in a statement.
Approver's Testimony and Financial Trail
Shaik Dastagiri later turned approver and was granted a pardon by Special CBI court. "He disclosed that the murder conspiracy was hatched around one moth before the murder. T Gangi Reddy informed him that D Siva Shankar Reddy and some senior politicians were also involved in the plan for the murder of Vivekananda Reddy," said the ED, citing the CBI chargesheet.
In the CBI chargesheet, ED further said that it was accused that D Siva Shankar Reddy would give them Rs 40 crore for the murder. "Shaik Dastagiri was induced by T Gangi Reddy with Rs 5 crore as part of a share in a promised amount of Rs 40 crore. He also admitted that he had received Rs 1 crore from Y Sunil Yadav, who took Rs 25 lakh from it. He gave the remaining Rs 75 lakh to his friend," said the agency. "Syed Munna and the CBI later recovered and seized Rs 46.70 lakh cash and unaccounted jewellery from the locker of Syed Munna and his mother."
ED had registered a case of money laundering based on the FIR and chargesheets filed by the CBI. (ANI)
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