An Andhra court sentenced former MLA Chengala Venkat Rao to imprisonment for life, in a murder case that had taken place almost a decade ago.
The verdict was delivered by an Anakapalli sessions court, in connection with the death of one person at Bangarampalem village in Nakkapalli mandal in 2007.
The incident had occurred when Rao was an MLA, and went to visit a group of villagers, who were protesting against alleged beach sand mining in the area.
A heated argument followed, and people opposing the project, clashed with people supporting it, leading to the death of one person, and leaving several injured.
A village elder named Gosala Konda died in the violence.
Some vehicles and property were also reportedly destroyed in the clash.
The police booked a case against 25 people, including Rao, for inciting the violence, under sections of the IPC that deal with rioting and murder.
According to reports, besides Rao, 16 accused were also sentenced to rigorous life imprisonment, while another 5 people were sentenced to two years imprisonment and a fine.
Three people passed away during the trial.
A follower of former Andhra CM N T Rama Rao and an acquaintance of his son, actor-politician Nandamuri Balakrishna, Rao was a long time TDP member, but resigned from the party, to join the YSR Congress on September 15, 2012.
While he won the 2004 elections from the Payakaraopet constituency, followed by a close loss in 2009, Rao lost the 2014 elections to V Anitha, who is the present MLA.
Rao was also in the news in 2005, when he tried to kill himself by jumping into Hyderabad's Hussain Sagar, after he failed to produce a film on a Rs 20 crore budget, and went into deep losses.
He was later rescued by the police.