Tension mounts as TD leader taken into preventive custody

VIJAYAWADA: Tension mounted as the police took Telugu Desam leader Chadalavada Aravinda Babu into preventive custody at Narasaraopet in Guntur district on Wednesday.

Babu had given a call to the ruling party MLA from Narasaraopet, Gopireddy Srinivasa Reddy, to come for discussion on the allegations of corruption against him and to take an oath at the Lord Trikoteswara temple in Kotappakonda.

Babu, who is the TD Narasaraopeta in-charge, had  alleged that Srinivasa Reddy was involved in corruption and several irregularities pertaining to sand, soil, ganja, land encroachment etc and developing illegal layouts.

The TD leader also alleged that the ruling party legislator was involved in the recent murder of TD’s Rompicherla mandal president, Balakoti Reddy.

This apart, he had given a call to the local TD leaders to meet at the party office to head for Kotappakonda on the eve of Ugadi festival, on Wednesday, to “expose the misdeeds” of the local MLA.

Srinivasa Reddy said he was ready to accept the challenge from the TD leader but wanted some time, as the AP legislature session was under way and the Ugadi festival was being celebrated on Wednesday.

Before the TD leader and his supporters set off for Kotappakonda, the police intervened and took him into preventive custody. Police said the action under section 151 of CrPC was to avoid a law and order problem. Later in the day, he was released.