Hyderabad: BRS MLC Tatha Madhu was arrested on Tuesday after police accused him of making objectionable remarks against Telangana Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.
BRS MLC Naveen Kumar Reddy was also arrested over similar allegations. The action followed tense incidents during Monday’s Assembly session.
A police team reached Madhu’s residence at the new MLC quarters on Tuesday morning. BRS leaders tried to prevent officers from taking him into custody.
The leaders questioned the basis for the arrest. They also asked how police could detain Madhu without the Speaker’s permission.
Despite the objections, police took the BRS MLC into custody. Officers subsequently shifted him from the residence.
The allegations stemmed from an incident near the Assembly gate on Monday. Madhu had rejected the charge that he made objectionable remarks against the Speaker.
Tatha Madhu denies remarks against Speaker
At a press conference at Telangana Bhavan on Monday, Madhu addressed the allegations. MLCs L. Ramana, Dasoju Sravan, Deshapathi Srinivas and MC Koti Reddy joined him.
During the meeting, Madhu described the events near the Assembly gate. He alleged that police personnel attacked MLAs and MLCs during the confrontation.
He specifically alleged that women legislators also faced police action. According to Madhu, personnel attacked him, tried to pull his trousers and pressed his throat.
Madhu said he reacted angrily while questioning officials at the scene. His questions, he said, concerned who had attacked him and who had ordered the alleged action.
He maintained that he had not directed his remarks at Speaker Gaddam Prasad. The BRS MLC also said he had great respect for the Speaker and the Speaker’s office.
If anyone considered his remarks a reference to the Speaker, Madhu said he would withdraw them. He also expressed regret over such an interpretation.
Furthermore, he criticised the conduct of police personnel during the incident. Madhu alleged that women legislators faced incidents involving pulling of sarees, grabbing hair and pressing their throats.
Naveen Kumar Reddy arrested at Kokapet residence
Police also reached Naveen Kumar Reddy’s home in Kokapet early Tuesday. Officers took the BRS MLC into custody over alleged remarks against the Speaker.
Reddy questioned the officers about the reason for his arrest. He also asked who had filed the complaint.
Police told him that OSD Venkateswara Rao had lodged the complaint. Officers said the complaint concerned alleged objectionable remarks against Gaddam Prasad.
The police then moved to take Reddy into custody. His wife Lakshmi intervened and asked officers not to make what she described as an illegal arrest.
She recorded videos during the incident as police took Reddy away. Reddy also questioned the manner in which officers handled the arrest.
Meanwhile, he criticised Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and alleged that the Chief Minister frequently attacked Opposition parties verbally. Reddy asked why police had not arrested the Chief Minister despite complaints against him.
He said the arrests would not intimidate the Opposition. Reddy added that such action would not stop their political protests.
Police subsequently arrested Naveen Kumar Reddy and shifted him in a vehicle.
The arrests followed police action over allegations linked to Monday’s Assembly session. Both BRS MLCs were taken into custody on Tuesday morning.