Did Jana Sena Establish a Committee to Investigate MLA's Sexual Exploitation Allegations?
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Amaravati, Jan 28 (NationPress) - The Jana Sena party in Andhra Pradesh has created a three-member panel to examine serious allegations against its MLA Arava Sridhar, who stands accused of sexually exploiting a woman.
This initiative was led by the party's chief, Pawan Kalyan, who also serves as the Deputy Chief Minister of Andhra Pradesh. The members appointed to the committee include party leaders T. Sivashankar, T. Ramadevi, and T.C. Varun. They have been tasked with investigating the allegations that have recently surfaced.
The committee was established following reports in the media regarding the accusations against the MLA representing the Railway Koduru constituency in Tirupati district. The party has instructed MLA Sridhar to present himself before the committee within a week to clarify the situation and has advised him to refrain from participating in party activities until the investigation concludes.
A video that circulated on social media features a woman claiming that Sridhar exploited her for over a year under the guise of marriage and compelled her to undergo multiple abortions.
The woman, who is a government employee, stated in a selfie video that the exploitation began shortly after Sridhar's election as an MLA in 2024. She recounted instances where he allegedly took her to secluded locations and assaulted her.
According to her, she was forced to terminate five pregnancies in the past year, during which he allegedly subjected her to continuous threats and intimidation. She claimed he even pressured her husband to initiate a divorce.
She recounted, "He told me that if I had an abortion, everything would be fine with my family and job; otherwise, I would face dire consequences."
Despite these allegations, Sridhar has firmly denied any wrongdoing, asserting that false information and manipulated videos have been disseminated about him.
"During my three-year term as a Sarpanch starting in 2021, can anyone from my village or nearby areas attest to any misconduct on my part?" he stated in a video where he refuted the claims.
He emphasized his commitment to public service, inspired by Pawan Kalyan, and expressed that he has faced harassment in the past six months, leading his mother to file a police report. "I will identify those responsible for this smear campaign and pursue legal action," he vowed.