Video: Andhra BJP leader creates ruckus, booked for almost running over traffic cop

Laka Vengala Rao, owner of Laka Shopping Mall, had parked his car outside the mall on the main road and refused to move it.
Video: Andhra BJP leader creates ruckus, booked for almost running over traffic cop
Video: Andhra BJP leader creates ruckus, booked for almost running over traffic cop
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In a brazen act caught on camera, a BJP leader in Vijayawada almost ran over a traffic policeman after authorities threatened to tow away his car.

A video of the incident which is doing the rounds shows a few traffic policemen standing around a white car, warning the driver against moving forward. A tow truck can also be seen in the shot. Paying no heed to the warning, the driver can be seen moving forward almost hitting one policeman standing in front of the vehicle. Even as the police continue warning the driver, he inches forward before joining the traffic and driving away.

The incident took place at around 8 pm on Saturday night on the city’s busy MG Road, which is part of an arterial stretch in the city. The accused has been identified as Laka Vengala Rao, a businessman-politician, who had also unsuccessfully contested the 2009 Lok Sabha elections on a BJP ticket.

Speaking to TNM, Vijayawada City Traffic DCP Ram Prasad said, “The accused is the owner of Laka Shopping Mall in the city and he had parked his car outside the mall on the main road, which also doubles up as a highway. As Saturday was a busy day, our traffic police personnel asked him to move his vehicle to the parking facility in his own outlet.”

However, police say that Rao was reluctant and behaved in a rash manner. 

“As he refused, they called for a towing truck. Rather than cooperating with the police initially, he waited till the truck came and then realised that he might lose his vehicle. He immediately got into the car and started moving forward, even as a constable warned him not to. Our traffic police officials could have gotten hurt or may have even been killed,” the DCP added.

Following this, the local Traffic CI, who was the supervising officer, approached the Law and Order police and filed a complaint.

“The police in turn registered a case under sections dealing with rash driving and deterring a public servant from doing their duty and picked him up on Saturday night itself. He was presented in front of a court and sent to judicial remand,” the DCP said.

Laka Vengala Rao has been associated with the BJP for more than a decade, even holding the city president post in 2008. More recently, he held the post of Andhra Pradesh President of the Akhila Bharatiya Yadava Mahasabha (ABYM).

Watch the video below.

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