Raids at former BRS MLA Marri Janardhan Reddy’s residence trigger tension in Motinagar

Tension erupted in Motinagar as police conducted searches at former BRS MLA Marri Janardhan Reddy’s residence ahead of the Jubilee Hills bypoll. The BRS accused the Congress government of harassment, alleging the operation had no jurisdictional link to Jubilee Hills.

Hyderabad: Tension prevailed at Motinagar on Friday after police personnel arrived in large numbers at the residence of former BRS MLA from Nagarkurnool, Marri Janardhan Reddy, and conducted searches ahead of the Jubilee Hills by-election scheduled for November 11.

The Election Flying Squad reached the former MLA’s residence at around 11 a.m., while he and his supporters were engaged in an informal chat at the gate. As nearly 100 police personnel gathered at the spot, the former MLA attempted to enter the house, but the police prevented him and his supporters from going inside.

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Heated exchanges followed between the police and the former MLA.

“This area comes under Kukatpally constituency and has no connection with Jubilee Hills constituency. I will support you but show me the notice for conducting searches,” Janardhan Reddy told the police.

However, the two-member Election Flying Squad went ahead and conducted the searches. Though nothing unaccounted for was detected, the squad continued with the formalities, BRS leaders who assembled at the residence said.

BRS leaders said the former MLA did not reside in the house, which was being used as a guest house to accommodate his relatives and friends. They objected to the conduct of the police personnel and raised slogans against them. They later displayed vests and briefs, claiming these were the only items found in the house.

Meanwhile, the BRS condemned the police action and alleged that the Congress government was targeting its leaders. The BRS leaders said MLC T. Ravinder Rao was staying at the former MLA’s house. They said the election code did not apply to Kukatpally constituency, yet the police turned up in large numbers, which they described as harassment of BRS leaders by the Congress government.