AP high court directs YSRCP functionary to cooperate in murder probe

Vijayawada: The AP high court on Friday directed YSRCP functionary Bandi Nityananda Reddy to cooperate with the investigation into the murder of realtor Pedda Dastagiri. Declining to quash the case as it was registered under the charges of murder, the high court directed the police to follow the provisions in BNSS if the offences alleged are punishable with less than seven years of jail term.Reddy moved the high court seeking to quash the case against him by the Kadapa RIMS police. Arguing on his behalf, senior counsel C Raghu said that Reddy's name was not there in the FIR, and he was implicated in the offence due to political reasons. The main allegation against him was that of giving shelter to the accused in the case. As the said offence was punishable with less than seven years of jail term, Raghu sought directions to police to follow Section 35(3) of the BNSS.Public prosecutor Menda Lakshminarayana said that Reddy played a key role in the murder, and the police gathered prima facie evidence to substantiate the same. He said that those who participated in the murder were given shelter by Reddy, and he also arranged money and logistics for them to escape. He further submitted that Reddy and Dastagiri were into the real estate business, and he hatched a conspiracy to eliminate Dastagiri following disputes in the business.Considering the submissions on both sides, Justice Y Lakshmana Rao observed that as the investigation is still in nascent stages, there is no question of quashing the FIR. He said that if the petitioner is apprehending arrest, he can file an anticipatory bail petition. Justice Lakshmana Rao further directed Reddy to cooperate with the investigation and posted the matter for further hearing after summer vacation.