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The MLA’s alleged behaviour has angered Telangana chief minister T Chandrasekhar Rao and officials, who are meeting in the evening.
Telangana chief minister K Chandrasehar Rao expressed anger at the incident and took the MLA to task for his misbehaviour.
Telangana chief minister K Chandrasehar Rao expressed anger at the incident and took the MLA to task for his misbehaviour.
A local Telangana Rashtra Samithi MLA Banoth Shankar Naik was arrested on Thursday for allegedly misbehaving with Mahbubabad district collector Preeti Meena during an official programme on Wednesday.
Mahbubabad Police filed cases against Naik under Section 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his or her duty) and Section 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) of the Indian Penal Code following a complaint by the collector.
The MLA came to the police station in the morning and was arrested. He was later released on bail at the station.
Naik allegedly held Meena’s arm during a Haritha Haaram (tree plantation) programme held in Mahbubabad on Wednesday, asking her to move forward. Television channels showed the MLA touching her arm while hurrying other officials and TRS workers.
Hurt by the MLA’s behaviour, Meena left the place in a huff and held a meeting with her staff. She also lodged a complaint with state chief secretary SP Singh, who in turn brought the matter to the notice of chief minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
The employees of the collectorate also staged a protest against the MLA by wearing black badges.
Rao asked Naik to meet Meena and tender an unconditional apology. He also threatened to suspend him from the party, if he did not change his behaviour.
However, it is learnt the collector was not satisfied with his explanation. She reportedly told her seniors it was not the first time that the MLA behaved in a high-handed manner with her.
The Telangana IAS Officers’ Association called for an emergency meeting on Thursday evening to discuss the Mahbubabad incident. The association is likely to come up with certain suggestions to the government on how to rein in the public representatives, who behave rudely with the bureaucrats.
In a similar incident last week, TRS MLA from Jangaon M Yadagiri Reddy picked up an argument with district collector Deva Sena for not inviting him to a local function. When the collector said she had made repeated calls to the MLA, he insisted that she showed her call record details.
In March this year, another TRS MLA Rasamayi Balakishan shouted at Karimnagar district collector Sarfraz Ahmed for not carrying his photograph on the banner on the dais during a DigiDhan Mela programme in the district. He accused the collector of violating protocols
