TDP leader held for comments against minister Roja, hospitalised for high BP

Guntur: Senior TDP leader Bandaru Satyanarayana Murthy, who was arrested for making alleged derogatory remarks against Andhra Pradesh Tourism minister RK Roja, was hospitalised on Wednesday on complaints of high blood pressure.

Murthy (68) was arrested on Monday night at Parawada mandal in Anakapalli district. On Tuesday afternoon, he was shifted to the Guntur Government General Hospital for medical tests where the doctors said that Murthy was having high blood pressure.

“Murthy was picked up around 7:45 pm on Monday and brought to Guntur last night itself. We will produce him in the court,” said Guntur West sub-divisional police officer Uma Maheshwar Reddy.

The former minister was arrested under various provisions such as IPC Sections 153 A, 354A, 503, 504 and others for allegedly making comments.

The police reportedly broke the door open, took the TDP leader into custody, and transferred him to Guntur. Murthy has filed an anticipatory bail petition in the Andhra Pradesh High Court, according to the reports.

The complaint against Murthy is about him making personal comments against Roja. Roja’s husband Selvamani had said that the leader’s remarks were too personal and had challenged Selvamani to provide evidence of his claims and disclose all details.

TDP leader and former Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu’s son Nara Lokesh condemned the arrest citing discrimination in the treatment of political leaders from the ruling party and the opposition.