Hyderabad: Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy appeared before Enforcement Directorate on Wednesday and was questioned for over seven hours in the money laundering investigation linked to the murder of YS Vivekananda Reddy. The agency is examining several accused in the case regarding the alleged payments connected to the killing, including a purported ₹40 crore contract.Avinash appeared in response to summons directing him to attend on Oct 14. His questioning follows the examination of accused Yadati Sunil Yadav on Sept 25 and Gangi Reddy on Sept 29. ED has also questioned Shaik Dastagiri, who turned approver in the murder case.ED had registered its case under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act in Aug 2025, based on CBI’s FIR and chargesheets in the murder investigation. Its probe focuses on the financial trail allegedly connected to the crime. CBI investigation dealt with the killing, the alleged conspiracy and attempts to destroy evidence.On Aug 21, 2026, ED searched six locations across Hyderabad and Kadapa district. These included Avinash’s villa at Kokapet, D Siva Shankar Reddy’s residence at Narsingi and premises linked to Avinash’s father YS Bhaskar Reddy, Gangi Reddy, Sunil Yadav and Dastagiri.Political rivalry allegedVivekananda Reddy was murdered on March 15, 2019. CBI alleged that political rivalry surrounding the 2017 MLC elections and the 2019 Kadapa Lok Sabha ticket led to the conspiracy to kill him.According to the CBI, Avinash was not present during the killing but participated in the conspiracy and subsequent attempts to erase evidence. In support of its allegations, CBI cited WhatsApp activity around the time of the murder, Dastagiri’s testimony and an allegedly fabricated explanation that Vivekananda Reddy had died of a heart attack.CBI named Avinash as accused No. 8 in 2023. On May 31 that year,Telangana high court granted him anticipatory bail and directed him to cooperate with investigators.Avinash has denied wrongdoing and maintained that he and his family were subjected to false allegations.
