Senior YSR Congress Party leader Bhumana Karunakara Reddy was interrogated by a team of CID sleuths for seven hours before being released on Tuesday evening.
Tense moments were witnessed as several YSRC activists led by Chevireddy Bhaskara Reddy gathered in large numbers anticipating the arrest of Mr. Reddy. Even as protesters raised slogans against the government, the police arrested Mr. Bhaskara Reddy. But as it became clear that Mr. Reddy would not be arrested, the activists left the office.
Speaking to reporters, Mr. Reddy warned that he would plunge directly into action demanding reservation for Kapus if the CID arrested him. “Mr. Chandrababu Naidu has hatched a conspiracy to defame my party. How can they blame YSRCP within minutes of the burning of Ratnachal Express? I demand that CID should also interrogate the Chief Minister, Home Minister and issue notices to them,’’ he said.
Mr. Reddy also said there was nothing amiss in the demand for reservation by economically backward Kapus and added that he would never shy away from facing any inquiry by the police.
“Mr. Naidu is now behaving like a gangster similar to Naeem and Jadala Nagaraju and trying to muzzle down the voice of opposition,’’ he added.
In a related development in Rajamahendravaram, CID sleuths have asked a private channel managing director Manchala Sudhakar Naidu to appear before the agency on 23 of this month. According to Additional SP Harikrishna, they questioned Mr. Naidu till Monday night and then asked him to appear before the CID again on on Friday. The CID had served notice to Mr. Naidu in connection with Tuni arson case during Kapu garjana on 31 January of this year.
