Telangana Congress Prez Revanth Reddy taken into preventive custody

Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Kodangal town to prevent any untoward incidents in view of KCR's election rally.

Telangana Congress Working President A Revanth Reddy was taken into preventive custody early Tuesday ahead of TRS chief K Chandrasekhar Rao's public meeting in Kodangal assembly constituency. He was arrested from his residence in Kodangal town of Vikarabaddistrict, police said.

Revanth, the Congress candidate for Kodangal constituency had called a protest rally and a bandh against Rao's scheduled meeting at Kosigi in the assembly segment this evening.

"He (Revanth) has been taken into preventive custody, in view of apprehension of disturbance of public order and breach of security," Additional Director General of Police (Law and Order) Jitender told PTI. "He will be released (later) during the day," the official said. Revanth's wife, Geeta accused the police of breaking open the doors of their house and forcibly taking away her husband to an "unknown location".

Many of his followers were also taken into custody from different locations. On Saturday night, police had carried out raids at the Congress leader's residences following which he had given a protest call. Prohibitory orders have been imposed in Kodangal town to prevent any untoward incidents in view of KCR's election rally.

Earlier, some TRS leaders had lodged a complaint with Telangana Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Rajat Kumar, alleging that Revanth was threatening to disturb Rao's campaign, following which instructions were issued to the police to ensure smooth conduct of the meeting. Meanwhile, Telangana Congress Chief Uttam Kumar Reddy condemned the police action and alleged that the election officials and police were behaving in a "partial manner".

He also sought to know about the status of the complaint made to the Election Commission against TRS candidate of Kondal segment, Narender Reddy with regard to alleged recovery of cash from him last week.

In his reaction, Chevella MP Konda Vishweshwar Reddy, who had recently joined Congress from TRS, termed the preventive arrest as "murder of democracy," adding it exposes the panic in TRSahead of the December 7 Assembly polls.

"People will not tolerate such autocratic behaviour and will give a fitting reply by voting against the ruling party," Reddy said. In September, the income tax department had conducted searches at the residences of Revanth Reddy here.

(With inputs from agencies.)