ED conducts searches in Hyderabad, Kadapa in YS Viveka murder-linked money laundering case

The Enforcement Directorate on Friday carried out searches at seven locations in Hyderabad and Kadapa in connection with its money laundering probe linked to the 2019 murder of former minister and MP Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy.

Hyderabad: The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted simultaneous searches at seven locations in Hyderabad in Telangana and Kadapa in Andhra Pradesh as part of its money laundering probe linked to the murder of former Andhra Pradesh minister and MP YS Vivekananda Reddy in 2019.

The searches were carried out under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at premises linked to key suspects, including YSRCP Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy and his father Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy. Other locations linked to additional suspects D Shiva Shankar Reddy, T Gangi Reddy and Y Sunil Yadav were also searched.

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According to the ED, officials seized incriminating documents and digital devices during the searches. Unaccounted cash of Rs 24 lakh and two locker keys were recovered from the premises of Avinash Reddy, the agency said.

The ED’s money laundering case is based on the FIR and chargesheets filed by the CBI in the Vivekananda Reddy murder investigation. The CBI had filed three chargesheets naming Avinash Reddy, Bhaskar Reddy, Shiva Shankar Reddy, Gangi Reddy, Sunil Yadav and others as suspects.

Vivekananda Reddy, the paternal uncle of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy, was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula, Kadapa district in March 2019. The Andhra Pradesh High Court subsequently directed the CBI to take up further investigation.

The financial probe is examining the alleged money trail connected to the murder conspiracy.

According to the ED, approver Shaik Dastagiri had alleged that Rs 40 crore was promised for the murder. He also disclosed receiving Rs 1 crore from Sunil Yadav, while the CBI had earlier recovered Rs 46.70 lakh in cash and unaccounted jewellery from lockers linked to Syed Munna and his mother.

Further investigation is underway.