YS Viveka murder accused Dastagiri doubling up as extortionist in Annamayya dist

KADAPA: Shaik Dastagiri, ex-driver and one of the accused in the brutal murder of former Kadapa MP YS Vivekananda Reddy, is utilising his recently acquired ‘star status’ to its fullest, to don the avatar of an extortionist in Annamayya district.

Dastagiri reportedly confessed to the CBI of his role in the murder of Vivekananda Reddy which took place on the intervening night of March 15, 2019. He later turned an approver and alleged a threat to his life from Chief Minister YS Jaganmohan Reddy and Kadapa MP YS Avinash Reddy.

Dastagiri is out on bail and was provided with security considering the threat perception. Now armed with the ‘two by two’ security provided to him, the murder accused developed a new passion. He has been maintaining a gang of thugs and resorting to settlements and extortion.

He recently poked his nose into a land dispute in Railway Koduru of Annamayya district in full public glare. He was found to be threatening people, misusing the security given to him by the State government. He is reportedly threatening people with the refrain, “if you don’t listen to me, you will face the same fate as YS Vivekananda Reddy.”

The accused-turned-approver has allegedly been fully exploiting his newfound clout by ganging up with antisocial elements. He threatened the opposite party in the land dispute to cough up money or face consequences at the hands of his Pulivendula gang.