Padi Kaushik Reddy
| Photo Credit: NAGARA GOPAL
The Warangal police arrested Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy in connection with an extortion case registered against him in Warangal. He was apprehended at around 2 a.m. at Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad while allegedly preparing to leave the country. He was subsequently taken to Warangal for questioning.
The arrest follows a complaint lodged by a granite quarry operator, Manoj Reddy, through his wife Uma Devi, at Subedari Police Station of Warangal.
According to the complaint, the MLA allegedly extorted ₹25 lakh and was demanding an additional ₹50 lakh, citing public discontent over the quarry operations in Vangapalli, Kamalapur mandal.
The case has been registered under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) for criminal intimidation and extortion.
Inspector M. Ranjith Kumar of Subedari Police confirmed that the legislator was accused of using threats to demand money from the businessman. The police have presented call records as evidence of the threats during court proceedings. Mr. Kaushik Reddy had earlier approached the Telangana High Court seeking to have the case quashed, but his plea was dismissed earlier this week.
Following his arrest, the MLA was taken to MGM Hospital, Warangal, for a routine medical examination before being presented in court. By Saturday evening, arguments in the case concluded and the court’s ruling was awaited.
The arrest triggered protests from BRS supporters outside the Subedari Police Station. BRS leader D. Vinay Bhaskar and several party workers attempted to meet the MLA but were stopped by police.
After the protest, 14 party workers were taken into preventive custody. Security in Warangal has been heightened following the incident.
Published – June 21, 2025 06:21 pm IST
