IB to find out why AP minister disappeared

Vijayawada: Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu has asked intelligence officials to probe the ‘mysterious‘ disappearance of minister Ravela Kishore Babu for three hours on Tuesday.

Mr Kishore Babu claims that he had gone to dine at a friend’s house in Guntur, and says his security officials were aware of it. This contradicted the version of his security officials, who had informed their higher ups that he had gone out without informing them.

A security officer said they were probing the issue, but they still haven’t got wind of the reason why he went or what he did during that time. Mr Kishore Babu, who became a minister without a political background, is becoming a magnet for controversies.

A local Zilla Parishad official had alleged a life threat from the minister. The party high command is reported to have received many complaints from the cadre against him. Mr Naidu has reportedly questioned Mr Kishore Babu in the party coordination committee meeting for “damaging the party’s reputation”.

A senior official said that it was quite common for ministers to go out without security on personal work while not reporting it to higher officials. Speaking to this correspondent, Mr Kishore Babu said, “I had gone to a dine at the house of a sarpanch. With my hectic schedule whole day, I asked the security officials to take rest. But still I don’t know why they have complained about  me.” An intelligence official said, though there are no suspicions against Mr Kishore Babu, there was a need to probe his disappearance.