MLA of Parigi in Vikarabad district, T. Rammohan Reddy of the Congress, landed in the soup on Thursday when a telephonic conversation, in which he was heard abusing an electric line man, went viral on social media.
It is not clear how the telephonic conversation, a little over four minutes, got leaked and circulated but the MLA’s action was condemned by many.
Mr. Rammohan Reddy was heard using foul language against the line man Ramesh.
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“I am an MLA. I can become Power Minister or even CM. How dare you cut power supply to the house,” the MLA was heard asking the line-man.
Though Mr. Ramesh tried to explain that he had not cut the power connection and that his personal assistant Ashok Reddy assaulted him, the legislator didn't bother to listen.
Interestingly, Mr. Ramesh didn't lodge any formal complaint with the police against the MLA.
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But he approached the Parigi police of Vikarabad and lodged a written complaint on Wednesday alleging that the MLA's personal assistant Ashok Reddy abused and assaulted him when he went to the MLA's house.
“The line-man maintained that he went to the MLA’s house to check payment of power bill arrears when Ashok Reddy allegedly picked up an argument with him,” Parigi Sub-Inspector Y. Nagesh said on Thursday.
Ashok Reddy allegedly abused and assaulted the line-man, he said.
Based on the complaint, a criminal case was registered against Ashok Reddy. “Ramesh didn't mention anything about the MLA abusing him. During further examination, we will ask him about it and record his statement,” the Sub-Inspector said.
The Parigi MLA, T. Rammohan Reddy has said that he owes Rs. 7,000 power dues and was angry when the connection was cut despite his assurance that dues would be paid.
He said the abusive language he used against the line man was made in the heat of the moment and now the issue was settled after personally talking to him. I was angry because there were several complaints of power connections being cut for agriculture pump-sets and people have been seeking his attention.
“I have good relations with officials and they have been very cooperative. Today’s incident was due to some misunderstanding,” he said.