Revanth Reddy, Telangana Congress president, arrested ahead of KCR rally

Kodangal (Telangana): Amid a high-octane campaign in Telangana for December 7 polls, Congress candidate from Kodangal and party’s working president from Telangana, Revanth Reddy, was detained and taken into preventive custody early on Tuesday.

Reddy was picked up by the Telangana police around 3 am on Tuesday from his Kodangal home, hours before the scheduled meeting of caretaker chief minister and Telangana Rashtra Samiti (TRS) supremo K Chandrasekhar Rao in Kodangal.

Reddy had threatened to stop the public meeting of KCR.

A large team of police personnel arrived at Reddy’s house and broke open the door before taking him into custody.

Other MLAs were present with Reddy at that hour, strategising the protest before KCR's 3 pm rally in Kodangal. They argued with the cops, demanding they be shown ID cards of the authorities and also a copy of the arrest warrant.

After Reddy's protest call, the state election body had hinted there could be a probable law and order situation if his supporters tried to stop the rally, where KCR's party men would be present.

Reddy had appealed to people in his constituency to boycott the meeting of K Chandrasekhar Rao and hold widespread protests in the area.

Reddy’s arrest has sparked tension as he enjoys massive support.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened to avoid any untoward incident.

Talking to the media, Reddy’s wife Geetha said, "This is an attack on the people of Kodangal. Around 3 am, the police broke into our house and within a matter of five minutes, nearly 40 people forcefully took him (Reddy) away, the way they would take away a terrorist.”

Geetha also said police personnel didn't even show them their ID cards. “We don't know if they are the Task Force, Intelligence or state police. One of them said they have orders from higher officials,” she added.

This is the second time during the state Assembly polls this year that Reddy has faced the ire of the Election Commission.

Reddy was among five politicians, who were served notices after the poll body received various complaints against them for allegedly violating the Model Code of Conduct.