ED conducts searches at seven locations in Hyderabad, Kadapa in Vivekananda Reddy murder case

The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday (August 21) conducted searches at seven locations in Hyderabad and Kadapa in connection with the 2019 murder of former Andhra Pradesh minister YS Vivekananda Reddy.

The searches were conducted under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA) at the residential premises of the key accused in the case. The ED said incriminating documents and digital equipment were seized during the searches, besides ₹24 crore in unaccounted cash and two locker keys from the premises of YSRCP Lok Sabha MP from Kadapa, YS Avinash Reddy.

Also Read: ED summons Kadapa MP Avinash Reddy in money laundering case linked to Vivekananda Reddy’s murder

Vivekananda Reddy, the paternal uncle of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, was found murdered at his residence in Kadapa on 15 March 2019. The Andhra Pradesh High Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) to conduct further investigation into the case in March 2020.

The CBI subsequently registered a case under Sections 302 and 120-B of the Indian Penal Code and filed three charge-sheets, naming Avinash Reddy, his father YS Bhaskar Reddy, YSRCP functionaries D. Siva Shankar Reddy, T. Gangi Reddy, Y. Sunil Yadav and others as accused.

According to the ED, the CBI charge alleged that Siva Shankar Reddy along with Avinash Reddy and Bhaskar Reddy were unhappy with the growing political influence of Vivekananda Reddy and that a conspiracy was subsequently hatched to remove him.

The ED’s money laundering case is based on the CBI FIR and record sheets, with Sections 302 and 120-B of the IPC being scheduled offenses under the PMLA.

The agency said Shaik Dastagiri, who was part of Vivekananda Reddy’s team and later became an approver, told the CBI that the murder plot was allegedly hatched about a month before the killing. He allegedly claimed that Gangi Reddy told him about the involvement of Siva Shankar Reddy and some senior politicians and that ₹40 crore was promised for the murder.

The ED said Dastagiri also revealed that he was allegedly offered ₹5 crore as his share and that he received ₹1 trillion from Sunil Yadav. The CBI subsequently recovered and seized ₹46.70 lakh in cash and unaccounted jewelery from the locker of Dastagiri’s friend Syed Munna and his mother, the agency said.

Further investigation is underway.

Published – 21 Aug 2026 19:23 IST