CBI to take over probe into YSR chopper crash

The CBI today said it will take over tomorrow the investigations into the helicopter crash that killed former chief minister YS Rajasekhara Reddy. "The Andhra Pradesh government had made a specific request in this regard," a CBI spokesman said.

A CBI team would visit the crash site in Nallamalla forests where Reddy's chopper crashed and check the log details of the Air Traffic Control in Hyderabad and Chennai.

The state government has also formed a two-member expert committee comprising retired IPS officer and VIP Security expert M R Reddy and former DGCA H S Khola to investigate the incident from all angles and submit its report in 60 days.

Chief Minister K Rosaiah, who held a high-level meeting to discuss the helicopter tragedy on August seven, had spoken to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram and requested that a probe by the CBI be ordered into the incident.

Andhra Pradesh Home Minister Sabita Reddy had said though the case was being handed over to the CBI, the probe being conducted by the State Crime Investigation department would continue.

Defending the handing over of the case to the CBI, Reddy had said that "since many doubts are being raised over the helicopter tragedy, we decided to conduct a thorough inquiry from all angles so that the truth comes out."