Kadapa: The CBI, which is probing the murder of former minister YS Vivekananda Reddy, has been given four days custody of the murder accused Gajjela Umashankar Reddy by a Pulivendula court judge here on Thursday. Umashankar Reddy is presently in judicial custody at Kadapa Central Jail. CBI officials had arrested another accused Sunil Yadav of Pulivendula on August 2. They were given custody of Yadav later. Umashankar Reddy was arrested on September 9 for alleged involvement in the Vivekananda Reddy murder case.
In the petition filed by CBI seeking his custody, they stated that he and Yadav had collaborated and had gone to Vivekananda Reddy's house on a Pulsar motorbike. The petition states that during their subsequent interrogation they found out that the accused had hidden the axe, the murder weapon, in the vehicle’s side bag. CBI officials sought his custody on the day he was arrested and produced before the court.
The defendant's counsel filed a counter-petition on Wednesday. The court examined the two petitions on Thursday and directed that the accused be remanded in CBI custody for four days.
The probe into the murder is in 101st day at the Kadapa Central Jail guest house. The hearing was attended by the slain leader’s PA Krishna Reddy and driver Prasad. It is learnt that CBI officials, who have interrogated them earlier, have gathered vital information from them. It seems likely that some more suspects will also be prosecuted.
Meanwhile, the parents and wife of Yadav, who had approached the court seeking permission to meet him in jail, were told by the court that the interview would be at the discretion of jail authorities. They were denied permission on Thursday.
