Congress leader-turned TRS neta Padi Kaushik Reddy fined Rs 10L for defacing Hyderabad

On Wednesday former Congress leader from Huzurabad Kaushik Reddy and his followers joined the TRS in presence of Chief Minister KCR.

Kaushik Reddy had contested on Congress ticket against former TRS leader, and ex health minister Eatala Rajender in 2018 lost the election. Kaushik Reddy is supposed to contest against Eatala Rajender, who has now joined BJP, in the upcoming Huzaurabad by-election.

Kaushik Reddy had put banners, flags, and hoardings around the localities of Jubilee Hills, Banjara Hills, Gachibowli, Kachiguda, Kondapur etc of himself along with Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

Many citizens took to Twitter and complained to the Enforcement, Vigilance, and Disaster Management (EV&DM) wing of GHMC.

"Is GHMC Blind? Why no action so far on these illegal displays of TRS Hoardings, Banners, Flexes, and Flags in spite of No Hoarding Policy?" asked Telangana Congress spokesperson

Acting on a complaint, the EV&DM team generated e-challan for putting these flags, banners, and hoardings. The disaster Response Force (DRF) team of EV&DM had removed all these flags and hoarding from several localities.

"With multiple fines being added up, the total fine imposed against Kaushik Reddy for defacing parts of Hyderabad currently stands at Rs 10 lakhs. It may increase depending on the violations at various locations," said Viswajit Kampati, Director, and EV&DM.

The violators had put up illegal advertisements without permission from the competent authorities. It is an offence under section 420,421 of the GHMC Act.

According to the Directorate of EV&DM, the use of flashing lights or non-static illumination in the advertisements, size of advertisements or name board exceeding 15 percent of the frontage of the building, use of moving, rotating, or variable message advertising devices without any written permission from the competent authority is an offence.