Congress leader Vanteru Pratap Reddy contesting against TRS president and caretaker Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao from Gajwel has alleged that the police have been harassing and foisting cases against him on the directions of the CM. Pratap Reddy told Times of India, “So far, 25 cases have been field against me. Cops have confined me in a dark room and are working in favour of KCR. The police enter my residence under the pretext of conducting searches based on false complaints.”

Pratap Reddy also alleged that KCR’s nephew and Minister T Harish Rao, who has been campaigning on behalf of KCR have been distributing liquor and money in Gajwel. He alleged that the police have not taken action against Rao and his supporters, despite providing evidence for their corrupt practices.

Besides conducting searches at the residence of Pratap Reddy, police also conducted raids at the residence and properties of his friends. On Monday night, tension prevailed at Pratap Reddy’s residence in Kompally, after he threatened self-immolation alleging police harassment. His supporters then raised slogans for TRS and against the police. Earlier on Saturday, he sat on a hunger strike at the Gajwel Returning Officer’s office, appealing the Election Commission step up their vigil and curb the liquor flow and bribery by the TRS. He also had alleged threat to his life. However, police detained him and let him off later. As his blood pressure dropped, he was admitted in a private hospital in Secunderabad.    

In response to the raids against Vanteru Pratap Reddy, Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee chief Uttam Kumar Reddy alleged that the Election Commission and police of bias.

He alleged that the police have been filing false cases against Pratap Reddy at the behest of KCR and subjecting him to harassment. He said that the elections should be conducted in a free and fair manner.