HYDERABAD: A day after his arrest, BRS former MLA Patnam Narender Reddy on Thursday denied confessing to his involvement in the attack on the Vikarabad district collector and his team in Lagcherla village of Dudyal mandal and also to naming BRS working president KT Rama Rao in the case. He also said that he was unaware of the contents of the remand report.
Narender Reddy, who has been lodged in Cherlapally jail following his remand, in an affidavit claimed that the police “created the story” of his so-called involvement. “No police official has talked to me nor have I given any statement to the police,” Narender Reddy said in his affidavit submitted to the Kodangal court.
It may be mentioned here that the remand report, accessed by TNIE, mentions the former MLA’s “confessional statement” and says that he conspired the attack as per the directions of Rama Rao. “To gain political mileage and defame the government of Telangana as per the directions of their party prominent leader i.e., KTR and others (sic)”, the remand report says.
When TNIE contacted a top police officer over Narender Reddy allegations, he said that the cops have the evidence needed. “We are going on (with the investigation) based on the evidence,” said the police officer.
This officer mentioned that a few days back, while he was speaking with the villagers, Narender Reddy told the locals that he would “take on” whoever comes to the village, including collector.
Cop: Accused convinced Collector to enter village
“We will attack them even if they are Congress leaders, the chief minister or even the collector”, the police officer quoted Narender Reddy as saying.
He said that the collector meeting with the resident of Lagcherla was not on the agenda, but the accused, B Suresh, convinced him to go to the village. “Our teams are searching for Suresh,” the officer said.
When asked about the rumours floating that Rama Rao might be named in the FIR, the senior officer who is monitoring the investigation, said that as of now, the investigation is on and the police will proceed as per the evidence gathered.
A total of 21 persons have been arrested in connection with the attack and have been sent to remand.
Meanwhile, an advocate from the BRS legal cell told TNIE that Narender Reddy has filed a bail petition in the Kodangal court which will be heard on Monday.
Meanwhile, Rama Rao said: “I know that you told (the chief minister) will implicate me in one case or the other. I will be proud if I am arrested for voicing the problems of farmers.”
