Vijayawada: Crime Investigation Department (CID) sleuths arrested 12 persons, including Ganta Veerraju, the personal assistant of former MLA Vallabhaneni Vamsi, in connection with the Feb 2022 attack on TDP office in Gannavaram. The accused, who were nabbed early on Friday, hail from Vijayawada rural, Gannavaram, Bapulapadu, and Unguturu areas.
The arrested persons were identified as Kolusu Kiran, Tirumalashetty Rajesh, Maddala Ajay, Arnepalli Ravi Varma, George, Gandikota Nagaraju, Matta Anil, Ganji Kantharao, Songu Narendra, Ganta Veerraju (Raja), Kadakollu Rammohan, and Darivemula Pavan Kumar. The attack, which happened when YSRCP was in power, caused extensive damage to the TDP office. Vehicles belonging to TDP leaders were damaged, with two vehicles torched during the arson incident. The case was transferred to the CID recently, and further arrests are expected as the investigation progresses. While Vamsi, who defected from the TDP to YSRCP in 2020, was named as an accused, the AP high court directed the police in August to refrain from taking coercive action against him. After the TDP-led coalition assumed power in June, Vamsi’s residence was attacked, allegedly by TDP supporters. The former MLA suffered defeat in Gannavaram assembly constituency.
