ED Continues Questioning Prime Accused in Vivekananda Reddy Murder Over Money Trail

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Tuesday continued questioning Yerra Gangi Reddy, the prime accused in former Andhra Pradesh minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy’s murder, over alleged financial transactions linked to the case.

Gangi Reddy appeared before ED officials for the second consecutive day. Another accused, Uma Shankar Reddy, was also questioned by the central agency.

ED Probes Alleged Money Trail

The questioning is part of the ED’s money laundering probe into financial transactions allegedly linked to the murder conspiracy.

The agency last week questioned another accused, Sunil Yadav, and recorded his statement. The questioning of Gangi Reddy and Uma Shankar Reddy is reportedly based on that statement.

The ED began its probe on the basis of the case registered by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) and its charge sheets. The agency registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in August last year.

The ED is examining financial transactions that allegedly took place before the murder. The CBI suspects that a ₹40 crore ‘supari’ or contract was offered to the accused to kill Vivekananda Reddy.

The agency is also looking into the alleged transfer of ₹4 crore and payment of ₹1 crore as an advance to Shaik Dastagiri, an accused-turned-approver.

Searches Linked to YSRCP MP

Last month, the ED conducted searches at multiple locations, including premises linked to YSR Congress Party MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy, a nephew of Vivekananda Reddy and an accused in the case. 

The searches were also conducted at the premises of Kadapa MP Avinash Reddy, his father Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy and other accused in the murder case.

CBI Took Over Probe in 2020

Vivekananda Reddy, brother of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and uncle of former Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was murdered at his residence in Pulivendula on March 15, 2019, weeks before the elections.

The 68-year-old former minister and MP was alone at his house when unidentified persons entered the residence and killed him.

The CBI took over the investigation in 2020 following an Andhra Pradesh High Court direction on a petition filed by Vivekananda Reddy’s daughter, Sunitha Reddy, who had raised suspicion about some relatives.

The CBI arrested Bhaskar Reddy and his follower Uday Kumar Reddy in 2023. It had filed the first charge sheet in 2021, followed by supplementary charge sheets in 2022 and 2023.