ED raids Kadapa MP Avinash Reddy's premises in Vivekananda Reddy murder PMLA case
Synopsis
The ED's simultaneous raids on six premises tied to Kadapa MP Avinash Reddy and other accused mark a sharp escalation in the financial arm of the Vivekananda Reddy murder case — even as the Supreme Court shut the door on further CBI probe in March 2026. Investigators are now chasing an alleged ₹4 crore payment trail that could open a parallel PMLA front against one of Andhra's most politically connected families.
Key Takeaways
The ED searched six locations in Hyderabad and YSR Kadapa on 21 August in a PMLA probe linked to the Vivekananda Reddy murder .
Searches targeted premises of Kadapa MP Y.S.
Avinash Reddy , his father Y.S.
Bhaskar Reddy , and three other accused.
Investigators are tracing an alleged ₹4 crore payment said to have been made to carry out the killing.
Vivekananda Reddy was murdered at his Pulivendula residence on 15 March 2019 , weeks before state elections.
The CBI completed its investigation in August 2025 ; the Supreme Court dismissed Sunitha Reddy's petition for further probe in March 2026 .
Avinash Reddy holds anticipatory bail granted by the Telangana High Court on 31 May 2023 ; he and his father deny all allegations.
The Enforcement Directorate (ED) on Friday, 21 August conducted searches at six locations across Hyderabad and YSR Kadapa district of Andhra Pradesh in connection with a money laundering probe linked to the 2019 murder of former state minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy. The searches targeted premises associated with YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) Kadapa MP Y.S. Avinash Reddy, his father Y.S. Bhaskar Reddy, and other accused in the case.
Search Operations: Locations and Scope
ED teams began operations in the morning, covering two locations in Hyderabad and four in Kadapa district. One team searched the MP's residence at Kokapet, Hyderabad, while another proceeded to his residence in Pulivendula town in Kadapa district, which was found locked. Searches were simultaneously conducted at premises linked to other accused — Sunil Yadav, Devireddy Shivashankar Reddy, and Yerra Gangireddy.
The Money Laundering Angle
The ED's probe is based on cases registered and chargesheets filed by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI). The agency registered an Enforcement Case Information Report (ECIR) in August last year. Investigators are tracing financial transactions that allegedly preceded the murder, with allegations that ₹4 crore was paid to execute the killing. The ED is attempting to track the movement of these funds and establish a money laundering trail.
Background: The Vivekananda Reddy Murder Case
Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy — brother of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) and uncle of former Chief Minister and YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy — was murdered at his residence in Pulivendula on 15 March 2019, weeks before state assembly elections. The 68-year-old former minister and former MP was alone at home when unidentified assailants broke in and killed him.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court directed the CBI to take over the investigation in 2020, acting on a petition by Vivekananda Reddy's daughter, Sunitha Reddy, who raised suspicion about certain relatives. The CBI filed its first chargesheet in 2021, followed by supplementary chargesheets in 2022 and 2023. In 2023, the CBI arrested Bhaskar Reddy and their associate Uday Kumar Reddy.
Allegations, Bail, and Court Rulings
The CBI has alleged that Avinash Reddy and Bhaskar Reddy conspired to eliminate Vivekananda Reddy because he reportedly opposed fielding Avinash from the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat and instead wanted Jagan Mohan Reddy to field his mother Vijayamma or sister Sharmila. The father-son duo has denied these allegations. Avinash Reddy was granted anticipatory bail by the Telangana High Court on 31 May 2023.
In August 2025, the CBI informed the Supreme Court that it had completed its investigation. The Supreme Court in March 2026 dismissed a petition by Sunitha Reddy seeking further probe and challenging the anticipatory bail granted to Avinash Reddy, as well as bail to other accused. The ED's fresh raids signal that the financial investigation remains active even as the criminal case has largely concluded at the CBI level.
What Comes Next
With the ED now actively tracing the alleged ₹4 crore payment trail, the money laundering case could yield fresh chargesheet filings under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The outcome of the ED's financial probe is likely to be watched closely by political observers in Andhra Pradesh, given the prominent family connections involved in the case.
Point of View
If traced and proven, would shift the legal jeopardy from the criminal courts to the PMLA framework, where bail conditions are far stricter. What is notable is the timing: raids conducted while Avinash Reddy retains his Lok Sabha seat and anticipatory bail, underscoring how the political and legal dimensions of this case remain deeply entangled. Whether the ED can build a standalone money laundering case — independent of the CBI's concluded probe — will be the defining question going forward.
NationPress
21 Aug 2026
Frequently Asked Questions
Why did the ED raid Kadapa MP Avinash Reddy's premises?
The ED conducted searches at premises linked to Avinash Reddy as part of a money laundering probe under PMLA arising from the 2019 murder of his uncle, former minister Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy. Investigators are tracing an alleged ₹4 crore payment said to have been made to execute the killing.
Who was Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy and how was he killed?
Y.S. Vivekananda Reddy was a former Andhra Pradesh minister and MP, brother of late Chief Minister Y.S. Rajasekhara Reddy, and uncle of YSRCP president Jagan Mohan Reddy. He was murdered at his residence in Pulivendula on 15 March 2019 by unidentified assailants who broke into his home while he was alone.
What has the CBI found in the Vivekananda Reddy murder case?
The CBI, which took over the probe in 2020 on the Andhra Pradesh High Court's orders, alleged that Avinash Reddy and his father Bhaskar Reddy conspired to eliminate Vivekananda Reddy over a dispute about the Kadapa Lok Sabha seat. The CBI filed chargesheets in 2021, 2022, and 2023, arrested Bhaskar Reddy in 2023, and informed the Supreme Court in August 2025 that its investigation was complete.
What is the current legal status of Avinash Reddy?
Avinash Reddy holds anticipatory bail granted by the Telangana High Court on 31 May 2023. The Supreme Court in March 2026 dismissed a petition by Vivekananda Reddy's daughter Sunitha Reddy that challenged this bail and sought further CBI investigation. The ED's PMLA probe is now a separate, ongoing proceeding.
How does the ED's probe differ from the CBI's investigation?
While the CBI investigated the criminal aspects of the murder — conspiracy, accused identities, and motive — the ED is probing the financial dimension under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The ED is specifically trying to trace the alleged ₹4 crore payment and any associated money laundering trail, which could lead to independent PMLA charges regardless of the criminal case outcome.
