New Delhi, Nov 29 (UNI) The Supreme Court on Tuesday transferred the trial of murder of former Andhra Pradesh Minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy from Andhra Pradesh to the Special CBI Court in Hyderabad after noting that "it is a fit case for transfer to a state other than AP".
"We allow the plea of the petitioner (Dr Suneetha Narreddy) seeking transfer of the case," the Bench led by Justice M R Shah said.
Dr Suneetha had moved the apex court seeking a detailed investigation into her father and former MP Vivekananda Reddy's murder from the CBI special court in Andhra Pradesh to the CBI special court in Hyderabad.
“The CBI will have to complete the investigation on the larger conspiracy at the earliest independently and unbiased manner,” the Supreme Court said.
The Bench said it cannot be said that the apprehension of the petitioner that there may not be a fair trial or that there was a larger conspiracy was imaginary. The petitioner has a fundamental right to get justice.
"This is a fit case to transfer the state other than state of Andhra Pradesh as justice need not only be done but also seen to be done. Criminal trial if biased, then, criminal justice will be at stake" the court said.
It said that for the ease of witnesses, the case be transferred to the CBI Special Court in Hyderabad. All the chargesheet and supplementary chargesheet will be transferred there.
The FIR on the larger conspiracy and destruction of evidence to be probed by the Central Bureau of Investigation.
"The investigation by the CBI will have to be in an unbiased and impartial manner," the court said.
The petitioner also sought directions that all the witnesses be given police protection and speedy and expeditious investigation and trial of the case.
Vivekananda Reddy was the brother of the former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S R Reddy and uncle of present Chief Minister Y S Jaganmohan Reddy.
Dr Suneetha said in her plea that even after three-and-a-half years of the murder, there was no progress in the investigation.
UNI SM MR