YSRCP leader YS Vivekananda Reddy, former minister and younger brother of former Andhra Pradesh CM YS Rajasekhara Reddy, was murdered at his residence in Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh on March 15, according to reports.
A press release by the YSRCP states, “Preliminary conclusions of the post-mortem stated that YS Vivekananda Reddy had been murdered. The coroner’s report held that there were seven stab wounds on his body made by a sharp object.”
The Police said that the deceased had suffered multiple injuries caused by a sharp weapon, probably an axe. Kadapa SP, Rahul Dev Sharma, said, “Initially, it was suspected that he died of a heart attack. But after visiting the spot, we decided that it was a murder. We have taken a few persons into custody for interrogation.”
YSRCP President Jagan Mohan Reddy blamed the TDP for his uncle’s death. “When my grandfather, YS Raja Reddy, was murdered, the TDP was in power. When there was an attempt on my life at the Vizag airport, TDP was in power. And now, when this murder has happened, TDP is in power again. Two days before the helicopter crash in which my father died, Chandrababu Naidu told him in the Assembly that he (YSR) would not return,’’ he said.
Demanding a CBI inquiry, Jagan Mohan Reddy asserted that only a probe by an independent agency could reveal the truth. He further stated that the police were trying to divert the attention with wrong leads and fabricated evidence.
Responding to the allegations, TDP supremo Chandrababu Naidu tried to pin the blame for the murder on the YSRCP itself. He said, “Not only YSR Congress but his family members should answer all the questions raised after the murder of Vivekananda Reddy. I am not saying the family members are culprits but someone had tried to destroy forensic evidence and suspicions are arising on them.”
Naidu also stated that the body of Vivekananda Reddy was moved from its original position and there were attempts to wipe out crucial forensic evidence. He also slammed Jagan Mohan for refusing a SIT probe and demanding a CBI probe.
He further stated that the Central government will “save them” if the case is handed over to the CBI. He stated, “If state police will investigate then the criminals will be caught. After the murder of a family member, clearing off evidence is definitely a crime. It is unfortunate that such criminals are in politics. Now they are demanding a CBI probe. But in the first place why did they destroy evidence.”