Search of MP CM Ramesh house was planned drama

Hyderabad: This Friday morning “show” was perhaps much more intense, gripping, full of suspense and packed with political drama than the recently released Ram Gopal Varma’s Lakshmi’s NTR.

A day after the police “search” at TD MP C.M. Ramesh's house in Kadapa — which led to a political furore in the already charged political scenario in Andhra Pradesh — it now turns out that the early morning drama, which began with about 40 policemen swooping down on the MP’s house could well be just that: A drama, enacted to perfection by some lower rung policemen, allegedly at the behest of TD leaders themselves.

The man at the centre of this controversy is Yerraguntla Urban inspector B.V. Ramana, who was transferred to Kadapa from Kurnool recently. He led the team to the MP’s house and “searched” the premises including the bedrooms in the presence of the MP and found nothing.

Senior police officials have ordered an internal inquiry to ascertain whether Mr Ramana or any other official in his team colluded with the TD leaders which led to a day-long political drama.

Sources told Deccan Chronicle that when the inspector along with about 40 policemen un-dertook cordon and search operations in Potladurthi, where Mr Ramesh’s house is loca-ted. none of his superiors knew or were informed that he had chosen that particular village until all hell broke loose.

One by one, the police teams randomly sear-ched 17 houses in the village before entering Mr Ramesh’s house. Mr Ramana did not bother to inform any of his superiors that he would search the MP’s house, something that raised many an eyebrow in the department. When-ever any lower rung policemen visits the house of an MLA or MP, even if he belongs to the Opposition, he makes it a point to inform his DSP and SP. In Friday’s case, no senior police official was informed despite the fact that he was entering the house of the MP from the ruling party and that too when the MP was present at home. The MP objected to the search and asked whether the inspector had a warrant to which the latter replied that they were on election duty and did not need one. Mr Ramesh then called up the Kadapa SP and told him about the searches at his home.

The search set off a chain reaction and snowballed into a maj-or mudslinging campaign what the TD getting ammo to target Prime Minister Naren-dra Modi and YSRC leader Y.S. Jagan Moh-an Reddy and the Election Commission of India, saying they had conspired to target TD  leaders. Mr Naidu went to the extent of staging a dharna in front ot the Ambedkar statue in Vijayawada. This was followed up with several dharnas and protests in all districts and mandals wherein TD supporters squatted before Ambed-kar statues and staged protests.

As for Mr Ramesh, he alleged conspiracy by Mr Jagan Mohan Reddy. “The EC ordered the search upon being persuaded by Jagan Moh-an Reddy,” he alleged.

Another interesting part is that the police found nothing in the searches on the MP’s house despite there being the “surprise element”.

“Neither the DSP, the SP nor the DIG were aware that the inspector was going to search the MP’s house, which in itself is very strange. It just does not happen this way. While the inspector’s search gave the TD ammunition as they hogged the limelight throughout the day, it projected the police department as being neutral (not taking sides and not sparing even the ruling party) and it was a win-win situation for all,” sources said, adding this comes at a time when the AP administration, including the police department’s image has taken a severe beating after the EC shunted out DG, Intelligence and two SP rank officers and Chief Secretary A.C. Punetha.

“We suspect that this match was fixed (bet-ween policemen and TD),” remarked a police official.

“An internal inquiry has been ordered to ascertain whether the inspector had colluded with the Telugu Desam members and carried out the search at their behest. The fact that he searched 17 other houses before entering the MP’s house gives the perfect cover that since he was covering all the houses, he also sear-ched the MP’s house. But it just does not add up,” one official said.

Contacted by Deccan Chronicle, Kadapa SP Abhishek Mohanty refused comment.