The Central Bureau of Investigation appears to be hell bent on fixing YSR Congress party MP and chief minister Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy’s cousin Y S Avinash Reddy in the sensational murder of their uncle and former minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy in March 2019.
At the same time, Avinash, too, is learnt to be going all out to prevent the CBI from arresting him in the case; as it would damage not only his own political prospects, but also the image of the entire party, as well as Jagan.
Sources said some top officials of the CBI came to Kadapa a couple of days ago and tried to serve notice on Avinash for questioning in the Viveka murder case. However, the MP is understood to have refused to take any notices from the central agency.
After failing in their attempts to bring Avinash for the interrogation, the CBI authorities are planning to approach the Kadapa court and get the notices issued through the court. If that happens, Avinash will have no option but to face the grilling by the CBI.
However, sources said, Jagan is trying to use his good offices with the Centre to rein in the CBI and ensure that Avinash is not targeted in the case. There is already a talk that the Centre has asked the CBI to go slow in dealing with Avinash.
“Almost everybody who deposed before the CBI so far has named Avinash as one of the conspirators. Yet, the CBI has not made any attempt to question him, leave alone arresting him. This is mainly because of the lobbying being done by the chief minister,” sources said.
But if the Centre is very serious in the case, it will not interfere in the CBI investigation.
“In any case, even if Avinash is called for questioning, he might not be arrested immediately, as there are no direct evidences of his involvement,” sources added.
