The murder case of former Member of Parliament Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy took a shocking turn, with S. Srinivasulu Reddy, one of the prime suspects in the case, reportedly committing suicide late on Monday.
Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy, 52, hailing from Kasunuru village in Simhadripuram mandal, consumed sleeping pills and was rushed to a nearby hospital in Proddatur town. He succumbed while undergoing treatment, leaving behind what is believed to be a suicide note.
The body was later shifted to Government Hospital in Kadapa for post-mortem.
In the letter addressed to his family members, he accused the police of “constantly harassing him and his relatives in the garb of investigation”. In two more letters addressed to Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy and his paternal uncle Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy, which were also recovered from the spot, he claimed innocence and mentioned that “he had no role whatsoever in the murder, but was framed”. The investigating agencies had summoned Mr. Srinivasulu Reddy several times for questioning, based on call data records.
Similarly, another accused Parameswara Reddy, an old friend of Vivekananda Reddy, also recalled his long-lasting relationship and personal loyalty to the YS family. Parameswara Reddy, who had recently been subjected to narco-analysis test in Gujarat, claimed that he had been “victimised for no fault of his and subjected to harassment in the name of probe”.
Vivekananda Reddy, the younger brother of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and the paternal uncle of Chief Minister Y.S. Jaganmohan Reddy, had always been respected across Pulivendula constituency and his murder became a bone of contention ahead of the recent general election, with both the TDP and the YSRC hurling accusations against each other of having a role in the murder.
The Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the case turned active after the change of guard in the State, but no tangible progress could be achieved thus far. In the absence of a charge sheet from the police, the court granted bail to Vivekananda Reddy’s personal assistant Krishna Reddy, old friend Yerra Gangi Reddy and domestic servant’s son Prakash, who had been arrested and jailed on charges of tampering with evidence at the scene of offence.
During his visit to his constituency on Monday, Mr. Jaganmohan Reddy unveiled a statue of Vivekananda Reddy and paid tributes.