Telangana MLA Kaushik Reddy Arrested Over Extortion Allegations, Sparks Political Uproar
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) legislator Padi Kaushik Reddy was arrested by Telangana police on Saturday in connection with a high-profile extortion case. The arrest was carried out at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, with authorities subsequently transferring him to Warangal for further investigation.
The Warangal Subedari police took the Huzurabad MLA into custody based on a complaint filed by granite quarry businessman Manoj Reddy, who alleged that the MLA had already extorted ₹25 lakh from him and was now demanding an additional ₹50 lakh. The complaint, lodged through Reddy’s wife Ramadevi, claimed that the threats were made under the pretext of public resentment against the quarry’s operations in Vanagapalli, located in Kamlapur mandal. Following these allegations, a case was registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) pertaining to criminal intimidation and extortion.
Earlier this week, Kaushik Reddy’s petition seeking to quash the case was dismissed by the Telangana High Court. Prosecutors reportedly submitted evidence, including call recordings, to support claims that the MLA had made threatening phone calls to the businessman. Reddy’s legal team countered that he was merely relaying public concerns about quarry operations in the area.
As the news of the arrest broke, tensions escalated in Warangal. Supporters of Kaushik Reddy and members of the BRS gathered in protest at Subedari Police Station. Senior party leader and former MLA Vinay Bhaskar attempted to meet the arrested legislator but was prevented by police. Security has been heightened in the region following the arrest. Kaushik Reddy will undergo a mandatory medical check-up at MGM Hospital before being presented in court later today.
Speaking to reporters during his arrest, Reddy denounced the move as politically motivated. “I will not be silenced for questioning Chief Minister Revanth Reddy,” he stated, alleging that his arrest was orchestrated in retaliation for exposing quarry operations linked to the Chief Minister’s proxies.
BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao also condemned the arrest, accusing the Congress-led government of suppressing dissent. “This is nothing but an attempt to intimidate those who question the ruling party,” KTR said. As legal proceedings unfold, the arrest has added fuel to the ongoing political rivalry between the BRS and the Congress in Telangana.
