Marri Rajashekar Reddy slams rude behaviour of I-T sleuths during raids

HYDERABAD: TRS leader Marri Rajashekar Reddy, who is also the son-in-law of minister Ch. Malla Reddy, on Thursday alleged that I-T sleuths behaved in a high-handed and rude manner with his father, mother and daughter during raids conducted at his residence for two days since Tuesday. He said he and his wife were abroad and he rushed to the city on Thursday.

Speaking to media persons, Rajashekar Reddy said that I-T officials had seized Rs. 4 crore cash from his residence. He alleged that raids were done to exert pressure on them to join BJP. He was categorical that he has no financial or business dealings with Malla Reddy.

"I have my own colleges and other business activities. I have nothing to do with the Malla Reddy group. Despite this, they raided my residence when I was abroad. They behaved in a rude manner with my 77-year-old father and daughter. They took them in their vehicles to my colleges and other places at midnight. There was no lady officer to accompany my daughter. I am not against I-T raids. I am only objecting to the way they carried out these raids. I will file a police complaint against I-T officers for their excesses,” he said.

Stating that I-T raids were not new for him and had faced them in 1994 and 2010, Reddy said, “Earlier raids were done in a proper way. But the latest raids clearly indicate that they were politically motivated only to harass and torture us mentally and physically as we are in TRS.”

When reporters asked how could he justify holding Rs. 4 crore cash at his residence when it should not exceed Rs. 2 lakh as per norms, Reddy said, “Counselling for various courses in our engineering and other professional colleges concluded recently and some students and parents paid the fees in cash. Since I was abroad for the past 10 days, the cash remained at home.”