Vivekananda Reddy's kin questioned

: Police investigating the murder of former minister Y S Vivekananda Reddy Sunday questioned his three cousins and recorded their statements in Pulivendula to unravel the mystery in the case.

Police questioned Reddy's brothers Pratap Reddy, Bhaskar Reddy and Manohar Reddy as well as the slain leaders daughter, son-in-law and brother-in-law.

Kadapa district Superintendent of Police Rahul Dev Sharma told reporters that 20 witnesses have so far been examined in the case and material evidence has been sent to forensic lab for examination.

Referring to the brief note purportedly written by Vivekananda Reddy, the SP said the YSRC leaders daughter as well his personal assistant confirmed it was his handwriting only.

We have collected some more samples of Vivekas handwriting from his house and sent them for forensic examination.

"Apart from five special teams of the Kadapa district police, five of the Special Investigation Team, under the supervision of CID Additional DGP Amit Garg, were thoroughly investigating the case from all angles, Sharma added.

Meanwhile, Pratap Reddy denied his rivalry with Vivekananda Reddy over a mining business had anything to do with the murder.

Yes, he did stage a dharna in front of my house some time ago but thats something personal between us, he told reporters in Pulivendula, emerging out of the police questioning.

Vivekananda Reddy, younger brother of late Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, was found killed inside his house on Friday, sparking a political slugfest between the ruling TDP and the opposition YSRC.

Both parties have leveled allegations against each other for the killing.

Police initially registered a case of unnatural death when Reddy's body was found by his staff but altered it to murder after post-mortem.