Minister, son argue with police in Amalapuram

KAKINADA: Transport minister Pinepe Viswaroop and his son Srikanth have got embroiled in a controversy after exerting pressure on police to release vehicles seized for noise pollution.

Youth in Amalapuram had been going around the town on motorbikes coinciding with the birth anniversary of Dr B.R. Ambedkar. Four of the youth drove vehicles without silencers, whose noise had been creating a lot of nuisance. Police intercepted the youth and seized their vehicles.

Soon, Pinepe Srikanth, son of the minister, arrived along with his followers and started arguing with police officials, demanding the release of the vehicles. DSP Madhava Reddy, who had been present, did not yield to their demand.

Meanwhile, minister Viswaroop arrived at the police station and expressed his anger over police seizing vehicles on the birth anniversary of Ambedkar. He demanded that police return the bikes to the youth. Former Sarpanch Nakka Sampath, who accompanied the minister, alleged that police did not take any action when fans of the cine actors Pawan Kalyan and Mahesh Babu drove their vehicles without silencers.

The DSP made it clear that even those vehicles, including some numberless ones, had been seized. The minister left at this stage.

Later, police counselled the youth and released their vehicles after imposing fines.

DSP Madhava Reddy told Deccan Chronicle that no one acting against law will be spared.