ED Continues Questioning Prime Accused in Vivekananda Reddy Murder Case

Gangi Reddy appeared before ED officials in Hyderabad for the second consecutive day. Another accused in the case, Uma Shankar Reddy, was also questioned by the central agency. The ED is examining the alleged money trail and financial transactions connected to the murder conspiracy.

The questioning follows the agency’s examination of another accused, Sunil Yadav, earlier this month. The ED has been looking into bank transactions and other financial records from around the period of the murder, with officials examining the alleged flow of funds connected to the case.

The financial probe was initiated on the basis of the CBI’s investigation and chargesheets in the murder case. The ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in August 2025 under the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act.

A key focus of the investigation is an alleged Rs 40 crore “supari” or contract for the killing. The agency is also examining allegations concerning a Rs 4 crore cash transaction and an alleged Rs 1 crore advance paid to Shaik Dastagiri, who later became an approver in the case.

The ED’s questioning of Gangi Reddy comes after the agency recently examined Sunil Yadav’s bank accounts and statements. Reports said investigators were also looking into the alleged movement of funds before and after the murder as they seek to establish the financial trail.

The agency has also carried out searches at multiple locations connected to accused persons in the case. Among those whose premises were searched was YSR Congress Party MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy, along with his father Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy and others linked to the case.

Vivekananda Reddy, the younger brother of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, was murdered at his residence in Pulivendula on March 15, 2019, shortly before the state Assembly and Lok Sabha elections.

The 68-year-old former minister and MP was reportedly alone at his residence when the attack took place. The murder subsequently triggered a prolonged investigation and legal proceedings involving several accused persons.

The CBI took over the investigation in 2020 following directions from the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The probe was transferred after a petition by Vivekananda Reddy’s daughter, Y.S. Sunitha Reddy, who had raised concerns over the initial investigation and sought a central agency probe.

The CBI filed its first chargesheet in 2021 and subsequently submitted supplementary chargesheets in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, the agency arrested Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy and Uday Kumar Reddy in connection with the case.

The ED’s latest questioning represents a separate financial investigation running alongside the underlying murder case. The agency is examining whether alleged payments and other transactions associated with the conspiracy constitute proceeds connected to money laundering.

The questioning of the accused is expected to continue as investigators examine statements, bank records and other financial evidence gathered during the probe.