Police officials questioned two MLAs of the YSR Congress Party in the cricket betting case at the District Police Office here on Tuesday. They mostly focused on getting information regarding possible financial dealings of the MLAs with cricket bookies and their associates.
The Opposition MLAs were stated to have denied carrying out any financial transactions with the bookies. They would fully cooperate with the investigating officials.
Nellore Rural MLA Kotamreddy Sridhar Reddy and Nellore Town MLA P. Anil Kumar arrived at the DPO around 11 a.m. and appeared before the officials. They had been served notice under Section 160 of Cr.PC two days ago.
Additional SP B. Sarath Babu and his team questioned the MLAs about any association with the bookies’ associates. Their personal details were also sought.
The officials asked the MLAs to come again for further questioning at the same venue on August 27.
Speaking to mediapersons after their questioning, Mr. Sridhar Reddy said he had offered to give details of his bank account and those of his family members which could be checked to remove any doubts regarding financial dealings.
He reiterated that the questioning was going on days after police officials had dismissed the role of MLAs and MLCs in the betting case. This was nothing but harassment of the Opposition party MLAs by the ruling party leaders only to score political mileage.
Mr. Anil Kumar said he had nothing to do with the betting case and that he had a clean record in public life. He would face police questioning any number of times.
He alleged that though the ruling Telugu Desam Party leaders had links with bookies they were spared while YSRCP leaders were being politically targeted despite the fact they were just punters and they lost much money.
Meanwhile, police officials were stated to have sought specific information on the association of Mr. Sridhar Reddy with Biradavolu Srikanth Reddy, who was facing charges of mediating between leaders and bookies. The MLA had admitted to his long-time association with Mr. Srikanth Reddy but asserted that he was just a childhood friend.
