SC to pass order on July 6 on a plea by Vivekananda Reddy’s PA challenging pardon given to approver

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved for orders a plea for clarification filed by the private assistant of murdered former Andhra Pradesh Minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy.

The Supreme Court on Wednesday reserved for orders a plea for clarification filed by the private assistant of murdered former Andhra Pradesh Minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy.

A Bench led by Justice Krishna Murari said it would pass the order on July 6.

Also Read | Vivekananda Reddy murder case | YSRCP MP Avinash ‘arrested’ by CBI, released

The applicant, M.V. Krishna Reddy, claims that he is the real “victim” of the crime and seeks to challenge the pardon given to Shaik Dastagiri, an accused who has turned approver, by the trial court in November 2021. He has also opposed the anticipatory bail granted to Dastagiri. He has blamed the CBI for “facilitating” both the orders of pardon and anticipatory bail. The former employee of the killed Minister argued that being the first informant, he was the “person competent” to challenge the two orders.

Krishna Reddy has sought clarification of an “ex-parte” Supreme Court order on October 10, 2022, which had said the legality of the pardon granted to Dastagiri would be considered on merits if a competent person challenged it in appropriate proceedings. Krishna Reddy, represented by senior advocate Kaushik Chaudhary, said he was that competent person.

However, his claim was contested by Suneetha Narreddy, the daughter of the slain minister, in the apex court through an intervention application. Ms. Narreddy, through senior advocate Siddharth Luthra and advocate Jesal Wahi, argued in the top court that “first informant” was not necessarily always the victim of a crime. Ms. Narreddy alleged that Krishna Reddy’s attempt was aimed to discredit the statements made by Dastagiri, as approver and dilute the CBI investigation in favour of the accused persons. Ms. Narreddy said Dastagiri’s statements had shed light into the crime for the CBI. In fact, Mr. Luthra questioned the very locus standi of Krishna Reddy.

Ms. Narreddy alleged that Krishna Reddy was arrested in the case on March 28, 2019. “As per a newspaper report, Respondent No.3 [Krishna Reddy] has now been named as suspect/accused in the supplementary chargesheet filed on June 30, 2023,” she said.