YS Avinash Reddy’s anticipatory bail plea:  Supreme Court directs High Court’s vacation bench to hear YS Vivekananda Reddy murder case.

Today, the Supreme Court of India directed the High Court of Telangana to place the plea for anticipatory bail filed by Lok Sabha member YS Avinash Reddy before the vacation bench of the High Court on May 25, 2023. He was accused in the murder case of Indian National Congress member and brother of the late Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy, YS Vivekananda Reddy. While hearing the matter today, the bench comprising Justice JK Maheshwari and Justice PS Narasimha said, “We are inclined to accept the prayer as the anticipatory bail which was taken up pursuant to the order passed by this court on 24.04.2023 was heard on…and no orders were passed. We direct that the Criminal Petition Number…will be placed before the next vacation bench on 25.05.2023.” 

During the proceedings, the bench was apprised to know that even after taking up the anticipatory bail application on two dates, High Court did not pass any order, Justice PS Narasimha expressed disappointment stating, “We are not happy with the Court not passing an order after our order. How much time does it require to pass an order in anticipatory bail?” He further added, “On the other hand, notices were issued by the CBI.” Moreover, the submissions made by the Senior Advocate VV Giri appearing for YS Avinash Reddy were opposed by Senior Advocate Sidharth Luthra appearing for the daughter of YS Vivekananda, Suneetha Narreddy. The judges also clarified that no interim protection is granted to him and directed the anticipatory bail plea to be addressed by the High Court’s vacation bench.

Earlier on April 24, 2023, the Supreme Court set aside the Telangana High Court’s order that granted interim protection to YS Avinash Reddy from arrest. The order also directed the CBI (Central Bureau of Investigation) to initiate an investigation into the murder case. During the proceedings then, Chief Justice of India DY Chandrachud remarked that “such orders of the High Court cause grave prejudice to the investigation”. Moreover, the Supreme Court directed the trial of the murder case of Vivekananda Reddy to be transferred to the CBI Court in Hyderabad from the Andhra Pradesh High Court in November 2022. The decision was made after noting that the apprehensions regarding the derailment of a fair trial by his wife and daughter were reasonable.