Cockfight case at Moinabad farmhouse: Cops issue notice to BRS MLC Srinivas Reddy

Hyderabad: Moinabad Police on Thursday served a notice to BRS MLC Pochampally Srinivas Reddy for his involvement in a cockfight allegedly organised at his farmhouse in Moinabad.

On February 11, a farmhouse in Tholkatta, Moinabad Mandal, Ranga Reddy District, was raided and 64 people allegedly involved in an organised cockfight betting were apprehended. The police also seized 46 cockfight knives, betting coins and cards, 55 cars, 64 smartphones, 84 cocks and Rs 30.59 lakh in cash.

As per the complaint of Moinabad police station sub-inspector Nayeemuddin, a case has been registered (80/2025) under sections 3&4 of TS Gaming Act-1974, section 11 of Cruelty to Animals Act-1960 of PS Moinabad.

A notice under relevant sections of the BNSS was served to the MLC for ‘allowing’ his farmhouse in Tholkatta to be used for organising a cockfight, police said. Reddy was issued the notice seeking clarification as the land where the cockfight took place belongs to him, police added.

MLC says nephew handling land

In the notice, the police sought an explanation from Reddy and instructed him to produce relevant documents or any other related evidence within four days from the receipt of the notice to facilitate an effective investigation.

“Otherwise, it will be construed that you have no evidence on hand, and the case will be finalised based on the merits of the investigation,” the notice stated.

Responding to the allegations against him, Srinivas Reddy said, “I purchased 10 acres in survey number 165 in Tolkatta village in 2018! One gunta land was acquired through a registered sale deed. My nephew Gyandev Reddy has been looking after all the affairs of that land on my behalf since the purchase of that property. Since I am engaged in public service as an MLC, I have entrusted all the affairs related to the said land to Gyandev Reddy.”

As reported in the media, there is no farmhouse or guest house in this property. There is only a mango and coconut plantation and farm implements. Apart from those two rooms to keep the mangoes and coconuts and to accommodate the workers, he said.

“After the incident yesterday, I came to know that the garden was leased to Gyandev Reddy and Varla Ramesh Kumar Reddy without my involvement. After that, I came to know that through Gyandev Reddy Varla and Ramesh Kumar Reddy, that M Venkatapati Raju had leased that garden which was in his possession. This matter did not come to my attention until yesterday,” the BRS MLC said in a public note.

Reddy further said that he came to know all these issues about the garden through Gyandev Reddy only after seeing the news in the media yesterday.

“I have nothing to do with them. Yesterday I also lodged a complaint with the police to take action against the persons concerned. If there are any unsocial activities in that garden as reported in the media, I have nothing to do with them,” he added.

The MLC said that on the day of that incident, he was not in Hyderabad and went to Warangal to participate in the Yellamma festival.

“A section of people have started smearing me just to embarrass me politically. In my 20 years of political career, I have devoted myself to public service without even a single case, having grown up to be a flawless politician, I will not ignore illegal activities and unsocial activities under any circumstances.”

Will cooperate fully, says MLC

If any illegal activities have taken place in the said garden, I request that legal action be taken against them. As I am the owner of the land, the police gave me a notice to explain. I will give a full explanation of the notice given by them. I will also provide full cooperation to the police in the investigation of this case,” Reddy said.

The BRS MLC also appealed to the vernacular media not to spread stories with baseless fiction without any 'substantiation'. “I will also send legal notices to people who are spreading bad news against me on social media,” he added.