Andhra orders CBI probe into YSR chopper crash

The Andhra Pradesh government has decided to order a CBI inquiry into the helicopter crash in which former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy and four others died.

State Chief Minister K Rosaiah spoke to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram on phone requesting for a CBI probe into the helicopter and the latter had agreed to it, a statement issued by the government said.

The state government has also decided to constitute a two-member high-level expert committee consisting of M R Reddy, a retired IPS officer and an expert in VIP security, and HS Kola, former director general civil aviation (DGCA), to probe the helicopter crash in two months. The committee, which would be given all assistance from the government, could co-opt any expert and officer, if required.

The committee would also go into preceding circumstances and also following events of the September 2 accident. CB-CID, the state police wing, has already started investigation and the DGCA was making a statutory inquiry into the crash, it added.

Rosaiah, who held a review meeting today, said the government was determined to bring out all facts and take steps to prevent any such incidents in future.

State Home Minister Sabita Indra Reddy, Agriculture Minister N Raghuveera Reddy, chief secretary P Ramakanth Reddy, Director General of Police SSP Yadav, Additional Director General (Intelligence) Arvind Rao and others attended the meeting.