Hyderabad, Oct 16 (NationPress) Telangana Endowments and Forest Minister Konda Surekha has found herself embroiled in controversy for allegedly defending former Officer on Special Duty (OSD) N. Sumanth, who faces serious accusations of misconduct and corruption. As a result of this situation, she was absent from the State Cabinet meeting held on Thursday.

Surekha did not attend the Cabinet meeting chaired by Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy at the Secretariat.

AICC's Telangana in-charge, Meenakshi Natrajan, summoned both the minister and her daughter Sushmita to the MLA Quarters, instructing them to refrain from speaking to the media.

Sushmita, who has publicly accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and others of targeting her mother, reiterated her stance when speaking to reporters, maintaining her assertions made the previous night.

Konda Surekha previously met with Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka to discuss the allegations surrounding her former OSD.

The Congress leadership has expressed serious concern regarding the altercation that took place at Surekha's home in Hyderabad late Wednesday night. During this incident, Sushmita confronted a police team attempting to arrest Sumanth, whose previous appointment as OSD had been terminated by the government.

A Task Force police unit arrived at the minister's residence in Jubilee Hills after receiving a tip-off about Sumanth's whereabouts.

Sushmita confronted the undercover officers and accused certain senior Congress leaders of attempting to tarnish her family's reputation.

She obstructed their entry into the house, demanding to see an arrest warrant amidst a heated exchange.

During this time, Surekha reportedly emerged from the house with Sumanth, departing in her vehicle.

Sushmita claimed that her family is being targeted in a conspiracy, alleging that Chief Minister Revanth Reddy's advisor Vem Narender Reddy, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy, and MLA Kadiyam Srihari are involved.

She mentioned their recent discovery that Sumanth had been dismissed as OSD, with allegations emerging of him threatening a Deccan Cements officer for extortion.

This incident allegedly occurred in the constituency of Irrigation Minister Uttam Kumar Reddy in Huzurnagar.

Sushmita claimed that upon inquiring with the Chief Minister’s advisor, they were informed that a complaint had been lodged by Uttam Kumar Reddy, though the minister denied ever making one.

She further alleged that Rohin Reddy, a close aide of the Chief Minister, was also present at the meeting with Deccan Cements and questioned why no action had been taken against him.

Sushmita expressed concern that those behind the conspiracy might attempt to coerce Sumanth into making a statement that he threatened a Deccan Cements employee at the behest of her father, Konda Murali. “It’s a conspiracy to arrest my father,” she stated.

Additionally, she noted that a security personnel assigned to her father, a former Maoist, had already been removed, raising questions about the reduction of his security.

The OSD controversy is perceived as a result of the conflict between Konda Surekha and Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy concerning a Rs. 71 crore contract for Medaram jatara works.

Surekha has accused Srinivas Reddy of interfering in the Medaram contract processes.

Meanwhile, Surekha’s husband and Congress figure Konda Murali publicly stated on Thursday that he is unaware of the controversy surrounding her former OSD.

Speaking with reporters in Hanumakonda, he also claimed ignorance about his daughter Sushmita's statements made in Hyderabad.