Bandi Sanjay and ex-journo Prashanth's Whatsapp chats reveal conspiracy- Warangal Commissioner A.V Ranganath

Hyderabad: Kamalapur Police falling under Warangal Police Commissionerate of Telangana, has named BJP State President and Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay as accused one, in the remand report filed before the Judicial Magistrate of Hanamkonda. April 5th being a court holiday, Bandi Sanjay was produced before the magistrate at the residence.

Speaking to media- Warangal Police Commissioner A.V Ranganath said, “The Hindi question paper picture was taken at 9.45 AM, around 15 minutes after the exam commenced on April 4th. Ex-journalist Boora Prashanth sent the question paper to all including BJP Telangana state president Bandi Sanjay at 11.18 AM. However, probe found multiple whatsapp chats, calls between ex-Journo Prashanth and MP Bandi Sanjay. Whatever was spoken in chats between the two, the MP repeated the same in a press conference on April 5th. For example, Andhra Jyothi newspaper carried Bandi Sanjay’s press statement - which matches their conversation that happened on April 3rd. Please note that Prashanth worked with HMTV, as a Warangal parliament convenor for NaMo TV from Warangal”.

In a midnight operation BJP president Bandi Sanjay Kumar was taken into preventive custody in connection with the SSC Hindi question paper leak, the latter was arrested. Karimnagar police picked him up from his residence after midnight. He was shifted to the BommalaRamaram police station in Yadadri Bhongir district.Police have accused him of being involved in the SSC Hindi examination question paper leak.

“Currently, accused 2 B. Prashanth is not associated with any media organization. While accused 3 Mahesh is a lab technician. The crime took place on April 5th, when a minor boy took a picture of the Hindi question paper and leaked it to Prashanth, it was also sent to Mahesh. This was forwarded to MP Bandi Sanjay and many other BJP leaders including the personal assistant of MLA Etela Rajender. We have not arrested Bandi Sanjay only because he received a Whatsapp message, but their Whatsapp chats revealed the conspiracy. Bandi Sanjay is refusing to give information about his phone" A.V Ranganath added.

The remand copy added, “This is a case of preplanned and evil designed criminal conspiracy malpractices in SSC Public examination with an intention to create rumors and provoke breach of peace of the ongoing public examination in the TS state. Where in MP Bandi Sanjay Kumar hatched a plan with the help of B Prashanth -( Ex-journalist) to leak the ongoing SSC papers by taking photos of a question paper in the cell phone. Bandi Sanjay gave direction to Prashanth to exploit the situation of leakage of Telugu question papers which happened on April 3th and 4th. The accused involved would then circulate the same to defame the government and officials”,said the remand copy. The commissioner also informed that the Lok Sabha speaker has been notified about the arrest of the MP, as per the procedure.

"Probe also found many calls between Prashanth and Bandi Sanjay. The conspiracy begins after the picture is sent to BJP leaders, one should ponder why paper leaks are only happening in Warangal and surrounding districts. For questions about arrest without a warrant, we have exercised power under 41 CrPc. We have followed all procedures- investigators are waiting for call data and other chats between the accused. MP Bandi Sanjay has not submitted his phone and failed to answer all questions with regard to his phone". The main conspiracy was to damage the education board of the state", Ranganath added.

The accused include MP Bandi Sanjay, Boora Prashanth, G Mahesh, M Shiva Ganesh, accused four is a minor. The absconding accused include, Pogu Subhash, Pogu Shashank and D Srikanth. The remand report also includes the personal assistant of BJP MLA Etela Rajender however no case has been booked against him. According to police, the accused in order to distort facts, updated their WhatsApp status saying the 'paper leaked'. When in reality it wasn't.

The Kamalapur police have registered a case against 9 accused under section 120(b), 420, 447, 505 (1) (b) of Indian Penal code and section 4 (a), 6 r/w 8 of T.S Public Examination (prevention of malpractices) Act -1997, in the SSC Hindi Paper leak reported on April 4th from Kamalapur Boys School- ZPHS. The case was registered based on a complaint filed by the head master of the school.

Union Home Minister Amit Shah and President J.P Nadda inquired:

Following the arrest of BJP state president in the alleged paper leak case, Union Minister Amit Shah and BJP party President J.P Nadda inquired with the party leaders about the arrest and the case details. :”They personally called me and inquired, " added former MLC Ramachandra Rao.

Speaking to NewsMeter Mr Rao said, “How can Bandi Sanjay be arrested for receiving a message from a journalist. On a day to -day basis, many political leaders interact with journalists via calls or messages. We have filed a Harbes corpus contesting the illegal arrest of Bandi Sanjay when the parliament session is on. The speaker has also not been notified about the arrest which may attract penal action against the Telangana police.”