Former minister P Shankar Rao kept the “treasury benches” on tenterhooks for some time when he demanded a through discussion in the Assembly over the alleged “highhanded behaviour” of the police towards him recently in the Green Fields land scam.
The ailing MLA came to the Assembly on Monday with the help of his daughter Sushmita and met Speaker N Manohar.
Submitting a memorandum to the Speaker, Rao sought a probe by either the CBI or a House committee into the Green Fields land case, in which he is facing charges.
The Secunderabad Cantonment legislator explained to the Speaker how he was ill-treated by the police when they raided his house on October 13 last year and January 31 this year.
Expressing displeasure over the way the police had exhibited unwarranted behaviour towards him on January 31 while taking him into custody, the former minister demanded an “immediate discussion” in the House, alleging that the government was against SCs and STs.
He accused the police of abusing and hitting him on his chest, resulting in bleeding from the bypass surgery wounds. The police had also manhandled and abused his wife and daughter, he added.
Probe into DGP’s assets:
Levelling several allegations against DGP V Dinesh Reddy and demanding a probe into the alleged disproportionate assets held by the DGP, Rao reportedly requested the Speaker to take up a discussion in the House on the issue.
Following Rao’s demand, chief minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy, former PCC chief D Srinivas and minister G Prasad Kumar (who is a relative of Rao) came to the Speaker’s chambers. They persuaded Rao not insist on a discussion in the House as it would be embarrassing for the ruling party.
When the chief minister Kiran Reddy promised swift action against the police after the completion of the ongoing probe into the incident, Rao gave up his demand.
Meanwhile, Rao’s daughter Sushmita, who accompanied him, told the chief minister to see the visuals and newspaper clippings and take action against the police officials concerned for their excesses.
“If the government could not take action against the police officials, it should suspend Rao from the Assembly. The police action was clear violation of fundamental rights of an individual,” Rao’s daughter told the chief minister.
Kiran Reddy told her that necessary action would be initiated soon after the probe into the incident.
The Speaker also assured Rao that he would examine the matter.