Hyderabad: Huzurabad BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy was taken into custody by the Karimnagar One Town police on Tuesday near Jubilee Hills, Hyderabad. The police reportedly detained him while he was returning from a media interview and are expected to shift him to Karimnagar for further investigation.
The arrest follows a heated altercation between Kaushik Reddy and Jagtial Congress MLA M. Sanjay during a review meeting held at the Karimnagar District Collectorate on Sunday. During the meeting, Kaushik allegedly behaved in an offensive manner towards Sanjay. Following the incident, Sanjay lodged a police complaint, accusing Kaushik of verbal abuse and physical assault. He also filed a complaint with the Assembly Speaker on Monday, seeking stringent action against Kaushik.
According to sources, the police are likely to open a rowdy sheet against Kaushik Reddy. Three separate cases have already been registered against him, based on complaints from Karimnagar RDO, Library Chairman Sattu Mallesh, and Sanjay’s personal assistant. The cases have been booked under the BNS Act and various IPC sections, including 132, 115(2), 352, and 292. An additional complaint led to further charges under Sections 126(2) and 115(2).
The confrontation between Kaushik Reddy and Sanjay took place during a review meeting chaired by Karimnagar district in-charge Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy. Ministers Ponnam Prabhakar, Sridhar Babu, and other MLAs were also present at the meeting.
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The tension began when Kaushik Reddy interrupted Sanjay’s speech, raising questions about his political loyalty. Kaushik pointed out that Sanjay had won the previous election on a BRS ticket but later defected to Congress.
“Which party did you win from? Which party are you with now? What is your real party?” Kaushik reportedly asked Sanjay, triggering a verbal spat. The argument soon escalated into a scuffle, with both leaders exchanging harsh words and pushing each other.
The situation forced other leaders to intervene. Following the altercation, police escorted Kaushik Reddy out of the meeting. His arrest marks a significant political development, and further action from the Congress government is expected.