Y.S. Vivekanada Reddy murder case | SC sets aside Telangana HC order directing CBI to give printed questions to Kadapa MP

The Supreme Court on April 24 set aside a Telangana High Court order which asked Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy to make himself available at the CBI office where he would be given a printed questionnaire, in the investigation in the murder case of Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy.

The Supreme Court on April 24 set aside a Telangana High Court order of April 18 which gave Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy interim protection and asked him to make himself available at the CBI office between April 19 to April 25 where he would be given a printed questionnaire in a Q&A format.

This was in connection to the investigation in the murder case of Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy, a member of the Indian National Congress and brother of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy.

Terming the High Court order “unwarranted”, a Bench of Chief Justice D. Y. Chandarchud and Justice P. S. Narasimha quashed the direction the HC had issued to the CBI, adding that the order was “extraordinary” and “stultified” the investigation.

The Supreme Court, however, said the High Court can proceed with the hearing of the anticipatory bail plea of Avinash Reddy on merits.

It also rejected the vehement submissions of senior advocate Ranjit Kumar, appearing for Avinash Reddy, that he be protected from arrest for at least 24 hours as the anticipatory bail plea is listed for hearing on April 25 before the Telangana High Court.

“Few minutes back, you wanted to withdraw the plea itself. For us, in a normal case, we would have allowed withdrawal of the anticipatory bail plea and moved on. But in this case we had to say that the high court cannot pass such orders. We were really perturbed by the high court order. If the CBI had to arrest you, they would have done it earlier. The CBI has shown utmost restraint,” the Bench said.

The Bench said the High Court directed that Avinash Reddy present himself at the CBI office between April 19 and April 25 for investigation and the question-answer shall be in written form and that a questionnaire shall be handed over to the accused.