Hyderabad, August 21, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday conducted searches at six locations in Hyderabad and Andhra Pradesh’s Kadapa district as part of a money-laundering investigation linked to the 2019 murder of former state minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy. The searches included premises associated with YSR Congress Party MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy and his father, Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy.
ED teams began the operation in the morning at two locations in Hyderabad and four in Kadapa. A team searched Avinash Reddy’s residence in Kokapet, Hyderabad, while another reached his residence in Pulivendula but found it locked. Premises linked to other accused, including Sunil Yadav, Devireddy Shivashankar Reddy and Yerra Gangireddy, were also searched.
The agency’s money-laundering probe stems from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) case and its chargesheets in the murder. The ED registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in August 2025 and is examining financial transactions allegedly connected to the killing, including allegations that Rs 4 crore was paid for the murder.
Vivekananda Reddy, 68, was found murdered at his residence in Pulivendula on March 15, 2019, weeks before the Andhra Pradesh Assembly and Lok Sabha elections. He was the brother of former Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy and uncle of former Chief Minister and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.
The CBI took over the investigation in 2020 following directions from the Andhra Pradesh High Court on a petition filed by Vivekananda Reddy’s daughter, Sunitha Reddy.
The CBI filed its first chargesheet in 2021 and supplementary chargesheets in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, it arrested Bhaskar Reddy and Uday Kumar Reddy. The agency alleged that Avinash Reddy and his father had conspired to eliminate Vivekananda Reddy over political differences concerning the Kadapa Lok Sabha constituency. The father-son duo have denied the allegations.
Avinash Reddy was granted anticipatory bail by the Telangana High Court in May 2023. In August 2025, the CBI told the Supreme Court that its investigation had been completed.
In March 2026, the Supreme Court dismissed pleas filed by Sunitha Reddy seeking a further CBI probe and challenging bail granted to Avinash Reddy and other accused. The court noted that the CBI had filed a third supplementary chargesheet and declined to interfere.
The ED’s latest searches are focused on tracing the alleged movement of funds and examining possible money-laundering aspects arising from the murder investigation.
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