ANANTAPUR: In a brazen display of VIP power, Nimmala Ambarish, son of TDP Hindupur MP Nimmala Kristappa on Monday was caught on CCTV vandalising a booth at Bagepalli toll plaza on the Andhra-Karnataka border, after he was asked for the toll fee.
Karnataka police registered a case against Ambarish and his associates based on a complaint lodged by toll plaza staff. The Nimmala family filed a counter case against the staff, alleging that the latter had damaged the vehicle after stopping it intentionally.
According to Karnataka police, Ambarish and his family members were travelling from Gorantla to Bengaluru airport on the NH-44. At around 8.30 am, the vehicle was stopped by toll staff who asked Ambarish to pay Rs 80 fee.
Ambarish allegedly argued that he had an MP pass and was exempt from paying. When the staff insisted that the fee is exempt only for vehicles in which MPs travel without their family, an enraged Ambarish his brother Sirish.
Within minutes, Sirish and six associates arrived at the toll plaza after which a heated argument ensued between both parties. The MP's sons and their aides then attacked the booth.
The CCTV footage doing the rounds on social media shows a toll booth staffer running away from the booth, as a man smashes the toll booth window. Later, some people vandalise the computers.
Police said that the attackers also threatened the staff. Bagepalli police rushed to the spot after traffic was stalled on the NH-44 and took all those involved into custody.
Police have registered cases against the two brothers, who are absconding, and eight associates. Meanwhile, the Nimmala family also lodged a complaint accusing the toll staff for damaging their vehicle and obstructing them intentionally.
A case has been registered against Ambarish, Sirish and the others under sections 143, 144, 147, 504, 506 and 427 of IPC. A counter case was registered against the toll plaza staff under similar sections.
However, Nimmala Kristappa said, "My son is well-educated and well-mannered and he would not resort to such attacks. The toll plaza staff disrespect VIPs from Andhra Pradesh travelling on the route. They had troubled me several times in the past. My car has an MP emblem, which means by rule I do not have to pay the toll fee. They are trying to collect more than the permitted fee,” Kristappa told the New Indian Express.
Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu has sought a detailed report on the incident.