Concerns have deepened that investigations into the alleged conspiracy to murder a Zambian of Asian origin Vinod Yaddula is taking long to proceed to court despite the docket being opened and suspects still placed on police bond.
Over two months ago, the Zambia Police Service, Flying Squad Unit swung into action and captured four suspects allegedly hired by Vikram Investments Limited Chairperson Panyam Vikram Deva-Reddy to kill Yaddula.

It is documented that Vikram and Yaddula crossed paths when the latter resigned from Vikram Investment Limited, the company he served as shareholder and director for 12 years to concentrate on his mining firm. That resignation supposedly angered Vikram who allegedly colluded with the complainant’s wife GurramKonda Anusha to hire four assassins that include Edward Morris from Kenya, Shyam Liseli who is brother to Town Centre Police Station Officer Imasiku, Simon Nganga (Yaddula’s informer) and Vikram Investments driver only identified as Renald.
It is alleged that Vikram and Anusha had been having dark corner meetings in Dubai where the former is based to eliminate Yaddula so that the duo can grab his prospective mining license in North-western Province and other properties dotted in Zambia and India.
However, Simon Nganga paralyzed the alleged murder plan when he supposedly betrayed Vikram (whom he has never seen face to face but knows him through his(Vikram’s) alleged agents Liseli and Edward Morris) and started leaking information to Yaddula who faked his death to bust at his former partner (Vikram), putting off the alleged assassination plot.
According to information obtained, the price tag for Yaddula’s head was USD10 000.
However, three months after, the matter has not yet been presented to court, raising concerns that justice is taking long to take its course in the high profile case.
When reached for a comment to give an update on Yaddula’s alleged attempted murder case, Lusaka Central Officer- in -Charge only identified as Mwila refused to comment on the matter, referring it to the Public Relations Office
“You want to know what now? I am sure you have called a wrong person,” officer Mwila said as the line cut due to poor mobile network being experienced.
Persistent calls afterwards proved futile as the line went outside coverage area.
Earlier, efforts to get a comment from Police Spokesperson Esther Katongo drew a black as her mobile line was consistently off.
And the duo of Development Activist Leslie Chikuse and Pastor Peter Chanda has called on the Zambia Police Service to expedite the investigations and ensure that the matter is taken to court.
Chikuse said it is very clear that suspects must be taken to court within 48 hours but regretted that police have always abused the law by detaining (them) suspects above the stipulated time.
“The law is very clear, when somebody is not taken to court within 48 hours, the person can sue for habeas corpus. So, the law is already there. All we need to do is to strengthen it and be able to show that we know our rights because article 18 of the National Constitution is very clear that a person is entitled to a fair hearing. Therefore, there is already a Constitutional provision and there is presumption of innocent and so on…There is usually abuse when it comes to the police but again, those can be challenged through either habeas corpus or you can challenge them through a judicial review if you are a public servant,” he said, “ So, there are laws in this country but the problem is that there is too much abuse which I think as citizens, we need to rise and begin to show people that are governing that we understand the law and that we have rights that ought to be protected.”
Chikuse advised Yaddula to report the matter to the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) if he is suspecting foul play or corruption in the manner in which his case is being handled by the Zambia Police Service.

“Vinod can file in other documents for matter of urgency…he can write a letter to the DPP on the delay of the case on whether the presiding justice has an interest in the matter but since his case has not yet being taken to court, he can report to the ACC to investigate why the matter is not proceeding to court when the docket was opened over two months ago. Of course, the police do investigate but if you are suspecting foul play, then you can report such suspicions to the ACC,” Chikuse advised Yaddula.
And Pastor Chanda regretted that that Yaddula’s case has taken unnecessary long to reach logic conclusion.
“In the fairness of justice, there is a saying that justice delayed is justice denied. So, my call to the Zambia Police Service, the Judiciary, the National Prosecution Authority (NPA) and other relevant authorities is that when somebody is found wanting, it is important that matters are expedited. We understand the fact that the Covid-19 pandemic has created a barrier which was not there. So, we cannot blame the Judiciary for now but now that the President gave a directive that things should operate normally in Government circles, my call to the judiciary is that let all criminal cases that are pending be expedited in the fairness of justice,” Pastor Chanda who is also New Congress Party (NGP) leader said.

Asked if he smells corruption in the manner police are handling Yaddula’s case, Pastor Chanda responded in the negative.
“No, no, no, there should be no cry of corruption or foul play. What we need to understand is that Government was on hold, the judiciary was not operating to full capacity. We are living under the new normal so matters cannot be expedited at the rate at which we want because there is a concept of social distancing that we need to understand but at the same time, we don’t need to create congestion in the prisons and police custodies. We need to see space that is the more reason that we need to be grateful to his Excellency the President for pardoning over 2000 inmates. That shows that he wants certain people to go back to normal lives,” Pastor Chanda said.

He advised Zambians to stay away from crimes within the Covid-19 pandemic period.
“My take to the Zambian people is that, within this period of Covid-19, stay away from crime, stay away from any other thing that will take you to prison. As much as you may want to see cases expedited to that level, the Covid-19 is putting some brakes. My appeal to the judiciary is that since things are back to normal, cases that are pending including criminal cases must be brought to logic conclusions,” he appealed.