Senior TDP leader Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy was arrested for making alleged derogatory remarks against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and Tourism Minister R K Roja.
On Monday night, Murthy (68) was arrested at Parawada Mandal in Anakapalli district.
“Murthy was picked up around 7:45 pm on Monday and brought to Guntur last night itself. We will produce him in the Court,” Guntur West sub-divisional police officer Uma Maheshwar Reddy told PTI.
PTI shared a video on X where villagers in Vennelapalem tried to stop the car that had come to pick up Murthy on Monday night.
The former minister was arrested under various provisions such as IPC Section 153 A, 354 A, 503, 504 and others for making the comments.
According to ANI, officials said that when the police came from Guntur to give notice to Murthy and arrest him, Murthy allegedly did not cooperate with the police initially as he refused to open the door.
The police had to break the door open and took Murthy into custody, reportedly. The TDP leader was then taken to Guntur.
Murthy has filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, according to the reports.
Reportedly, there were some personal comments made by Murthy against Roja. In response to his comments, Roja's husband Selvamani said that the leader's remarks were too personal. Furthermore, Selvamani called upon Murthy to provide evidence of his claims and disclose all the details.
TDP leader and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu's son Nara Lokesh condemned the arrest citing discrimination in the treatment of political leaders from the ruling party and the opposition. He accused the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party of using "One law for the YSRCP government and another law for the opposition...."
