The police in Telangana's Nizamabad district on Monday arrested the chief of a rural local body for kicking a woman over a property issue, after the incident was caught on camera.
Mandal Parishad President (MPP) Immadi Gopi, who belongs to the ruling Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS), has been charged with assaulting the woman, A. Rajavva, and criminal intimidation.
The MPP, a former Maoist, kicked Rajavva in front of the public after she hit him with a sandal on Sunday.
The incident has triggered widespread condemnation after a video clip went viral on social media.
Gopi had been booked under several sections of the IPC including 354 (assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 323 (voluntarily causing hurt) and 506 (criminal intimidation), based on the woman's complaint.
Meanwhile, Gopi filed a counter-complaint, based on which a case was filed against the woman and some of her relatives as well, over property damage and trespass, police said.
The incident took place in Indalwai block headquarters in Nizamabad district.
The woman and her family members were staging a protest in front of Gopi's house over the delay in handing over the possession of a land they had bought from him.
The family had purchased the land for Rs 33 lakh about 10 months ago but Gopi did not hand over the possession of the property and demanded an additional Rs 23 lakh.
Rajavva and her family members had been demanding him to honour the original agreement by handing over the property. The two sides had a minor scuffle last week.
The family again approached Gopi with their request. When he refused to listen, the woman picked up her 'chappal' and slapped him. He retaliated by kicking her in the chest. The woman's relatives then pushed down Gopi.
IANS inputs