Less than a month after a sitting TRS MLA was arrested for allegedly insulting the modesty of a woman IAS officer in Telangana, the ruling party in the state witnessed another internal conflict on Wednesday.
Khanapur MLA Ajmeera Rekhanatak filed a case with the local police, alleging that former MP and TRS leader Ramesh Rathod, threatened her and outraged her modesty.
In her complaint with the Khanapur police, Rekha alleged that Rathod had held her right hand and used abusive language against her, even hinting that he would kill her.
The incident was reported to have happened on August 8, when leaders met at a guest house in Khanapur.
“I was pained at the way he spoke to me, that I have not been able to have my food properly since then. I felt insulted. As an MLA, I go around in my constituency, but now I face a threat from Ramesh Rathod who has said he will see to my end. I need security. I have also spoken to the district police superintendent about it,” TOIquoted the complaint copy as saying.
Addressing the media after filing the complaint, the legislator said, "He (Ramesh Rathod) has been an MP and Zilla Parishad chairman. Is that the way he talks to women?"
She went on to add, "How can he show his ‘goondaism’ and ‘rowdyism’ after coming into this party? Even earlier, he had beaten up women forest officer "
Ramesh was a TDP politburo member, who joined the TRS in May this year.
Ajmeera also said that she would bring the issue to the notice of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.
However, the former MP has refuted the allegations, saying "even if a single person gives evidence that I pulled the MLA 's hand, I am willing to be punished."
Reports suggest that the police will initiate a probe into the incident soon, and question eye-witnesses.
Earlier this year, Mahabubabad TRS MLA Shankar Nayak was arrested for allegedly misbehaving with District Collector Preeti Meena during a Harita Haram programme.
The issue had attracted severe criticism from political circles and IAS officers, which led to KCR’s intervention.
The Mahabubabad Police had arrested Shankar Nayak under Sections 353 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty) and 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC.