HYDERABAD: A day after creating a ruckus at a review meeting at the Karimnagar collectorate, police on Monday evening arrested BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy for the alleged confrontation with Jagtial legislator Sanjay Kumar and others. Special teams picked up the Huzurabad legislator from Jubilee Hills and shifted him to Karimnagar for further investigation.
A senior police officer told TOI that three cases were registered against Kaushik on the complaints of Sanjay’s PA, Karimnagar revenue divisional officer, and Karimnagar district library chairman Sattu Mallesham. The MLA is likely to be produced before a local court.
The wordy duel between Kaushik Reddy and Sanjay Kumar occurred during the official review meeting. When Sanjay Kumar, one of the 10 BRS MLAs who crossed over to Congress after winning the assembly election in 2023, was about to speak, Kaushik stood up and demanded that the former clarify which party he represented. He also repeatedly interrupted Sanjay’s speech, insisting that he give an answer. This led to a heated exchange between the two, culminating in jostling. In the melee, Kaushik Reddy tried to snatch the microphone from Sanjay, escalating the altercation into a near physical confrontation. However, police and others present there intervened and escorted Kaushik out of the meeting.
Sanjay’s PA lodged a complaint accusing Kaushik of creating a “commotion” and causing a nuisance at the meeting, police said.
The second case was registered against the BRS MLA following a complaint from the Karimnagar revenue divisional officer. Karimnagar district library chairman Sattu Mallesham also filed a complaint alleging that Kaushik Reddy had abused him during the meeting. Based on these complaints, police registered three cases under relevant sections of the BNS.
Sanjay also lodged a complaint against Kaushik Reddy with assembly speaker G Prasad Kumar on Monday. Sanjay alleged that the BRS legislator abused him during the meeting in Karimnagar.
He further claimed that Kaushik Reddy obstructed him from raising public issues. He requested the speaker to take appropriate action against Kaushik Reddy. Sanjay said the speaker assured him that action would be taken once a report was submitted.
Kaushik Reddy has been at loggerheads with the Congress govt, staging protests and getting into confrontation with police on several occasions.
