TD Candidate Somireddy Booked for Distributing Cash to Voters

Tirupati: Podalakuru police have registered a case against Somireddy Chandramohan Reddy, Telugu Desam Party's candidate from Sarvepalli assembly constituency, for allegedly distributing cash to women during his election campaign, which is in violation of the Model Code of Conduct.

Videos had surfaced on social media that allegedly showed Somireddy and his son Rajagopal Reddy distributing cash to tribal women in Cherlopalli village on April 12. The TD candidate’s rival, Kakani Govardhan Reddy, YSR Congress nominee from Sarvepalli constituency, filed a complaint regarding the incident with the election authorities.

Somireddy had claimed that money had been given to assist tribal women out of humanitarian considerations.

Election officials had initially set aside the complaint based on a local inquiry. Subsequently, district election officer M. Hari Narayanan ordered the returning officer to initiate legal action based on Kakani's complaint.

Thus, Podalakuru police have filed a case against the TD candidate under sections 171-E of the Indian Penal Code and 123 (1) of the Representation of People Act relating to bribery during elections.