Cops took no permission from Lok Sabha secretariat before arresting Revanth

Hyderabad: Did Cyberabad police follow the procedure while arresting Telangana Congress working president and Malkajgiri MP A. Revanth Reddy in a case registered against him at Narsingi police station? According to the rules of the House, no member of Parliament can be arrested in a civil case 40 days before and after the adjournment of the House and also when the House is in session. If the situation demands the arrest of an MP, the authorities concerned should inform the Speaker immediately. However, no such immunity is present in case of criminal offences.

It should be noted that no MP can be arrested during the Parliamentary proceedings, but they can be arrested outside the Parliament in case of their involvement in criminal cases and that can be done after permission from the Lok Sabha secretariat. In the present case, the Cyberabad police did not inform the Lok Sabha secretariat or even the Speaker.

A senior police officer confirmed that though they did not seek permission from the Lok Sabha secretariat or informed the Speaker, they arrested Mr Revanth as he was facing criminal charges. Though the use of drones and other charges is not criminal in nature, hatching the conspiracy to use drones is. “The proceedings are going on. We will inform the Lok sabha Speaker and the secretariat as soon as possible,” the officer said.

Initially, the case was registered against Mr Revanth Reddy, his brother Krishna Reddy, and others for violating the prohibitory orders against the use of a drone and also abetment to commit an offence and charges of the Aircraft Act. But all these sections are non-cognizable in nature, which allows the police to serve a notice seeking an explanation from the accused and let them off instead of arresting them. But the police, during the investigation, found that Mr Revanth was involved in a conspiracy and slapped him with relevant charges.

During the interrogation of the five persons arrested on Wednesday, police found that Mr Revanth was also involved in the conspiracy and altered the case with conspiracy charges, which made it easy for them to arrest him without much trouble.