BRS MLA Detained for Threatening Police Officer, Later Released on Bail

Hyderabad, Dec 6 (NationPress) A local court has issued a bail order for Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy, who was implicated in a case for allegedly menacing a police officer.

Kaushik Reddy was presented before a magistrate at his residence in Nagole late Thursday night.

The magistrate set a penalty of Rs 5,000 and instructed the accused to provide two sureties.

As the legal provisions cited against the MLA carry a maximum penalty of less than seven years, the court approved his bail.

The judge cautioned the Huzurabad MLA to refrain from engaging in similar conduct in the future.

Kaushik Reddy was taken into custody at his home in Hyderabad amidst dramatic scenes on Thursday. He was charged on Wednesday for threatening a Station House Officer at the Banjara Hills Police Station.

Along with him, Harish Rao, Jagadish Reddy, K. Prabhakar Rao, Shambipur Raju, and others were taken to various police stations, but were released later that evening.

A complaint by Circle Inspector Raghavendra led to the case being filed against Kaushik Reddy and his associates at the Banjara Hills Police Station.

The inspector claimed that the MLA from Huzurabad issued threats and attempted to hinder him from performing his official responsibilities.

This incident transpired when the MLA, accompanied by around 20 supporters, visited the Banjara Hills Police Station to report that his phone was being tapped. As he entered the station, the Circle Inspector or the Station House Officer, Raghavendra, was exiting.

Kaushik Reddy insisted that the SHO handle his complaint before leaving. When the police officer explained he had urgent matters to attend to and would take the complaint upon his return, the MLA expressed his frustration.

A heated exchange ensued between Kaushik Reddy and the SHO, during which he asserted that it was the SHO's responsibility to appropriately attend to an MLA's presence at the station. He was overheard making threats toward the police officer.

The MLA’s supporters obstructed the SHO’s vehicle and shouted slogans. The SHO ultimately returned and accepted the complaint from the MLA.

Subsequently, law enforcement initiated a case against Kaushik Reddy based on the SHO's complaint. Charges filed included unlawful assembly, utilizing force to obstruct a public servant's duties, criminal intimidation, wrongful restraint, public nuisance, and rioting against Kaushik Reddy and his associates.

In the aftermath of his bail release, Kaushik Reddy claimed that his arrest was unlawful. He expressed that he was undeterred by arrests.

The MLA affirmed his intention to continue holding the government accountable on behalf of the residents of Huzurabad.