HYDERABAD: High drama prevailed at Gachibowli police station for over 10 hours on Thursday when BRS MLA T Harish Rao was detained by police allegedly for obstructing them from investigating a case filed against fellow legislator Padi Kushik Reddy at the latter’s residence in Kondapur.
Harish Rao reached Kaushik’s residence amidst reports that latter will be arrested for threatening Circle Inspector (CI) KM Raghavendra at Banjara Hills police station on Wednesday.
Cyberabad police, however, took Harish Rao into preventive custody and shifted him to Gachibowli police station. They also took former minister G Jagadish Reddy and other BRS leaders into custody. After a 10-hour detention, Harish and other were released in the night.
Meanwhile, Kaushik Reddy was arrested by Banjara Hills police in connection with a case registered against him and others on Wednesday for allegedly threatening CI Raghavendra at the police station.
According to police, Kaushik Reddy was interrogated during the day and he will be produced in the court on Friday.
Meanwhile, speaking to TNIE, Madhapur DCP G Vineeth said: “Yesterday, a case was registered against MLA (Kaushik Reddy) at Banjara Hills police station and personnel from that PS sought our support in further investigating the case. As these leaders were gathering in front of the MLA’s house and hampering the proceedings, we took them into custody.”
‘Is this Indiramma Rajyam or Emergency rule?’
Harish Rao termed the Congress’ rule as “demonic” regime. “Is this Indiramma Rajyam or Emergency rule? When he went to the police station to complain about phone tapping, a false case was filed against MLA Kaushik Reddy. In the morning, police arrived at the MLA’s house and tried to illegally arrest him. When we questioned this evil, the BRS leaders and I were treated badly. We were illegally arrested and taken to the police station. If I ask, they arrest me. If I question, they charge me. If I oppose, they threaten me. You are continuing with your demonic regime by claiming it to be a democratic rule,” he posted on X.
BRS working president KT Rama Rao, who was in Kerala, took to X to condemn the arrests and demanded that the BRS leaders be released immediately. BRS MLC K Kavitha reached Gachibowli police station and demanded immediate release of Harish Ra0 and others. A large number of BRS cadre and leaders too rushed to the Gachibowli police station demanding their release.
Speaking to reporters later, Harish Rao alleged that Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy was not behaving like a chief minister. “The CM is behaving like a factionalist. The police stations have become Congress party offices and FIRs are being written at Gandhi Bhavan,” he alleged.
“Kaushik Reddy took an appointment and went to the police station. But police are saying it was a trespass,” Harish said and demanded that Kaushik Reddy too should be released immediately.
Based on a complaint from CI Raghavendra, Kaushik Reddy was booked for unlawful assembly, using force to obstruct the duties of a public servant, criminal intimidation, wrongful restraint and public nuisance under BNS Sections 57, 126(2), 127(2), 132, 224, 333, 351(3), 191(2), r/w 190, r/w 3(5).
In his complaint, Raghavendra alleged that, when he was leaving the station for emergency field duty, a group of persons, led by the MLA (Kaushik Reddy) intercepted his vehicle by blocking it with another car and demanded that he get down.
However, no cases were registered against Harish Rao.