IPS officer Ranganath Vs Bandi Sanjay: I will quit if you prove me wrong, says top cop

Hyderabad: Senior IPS officer and Warangal police commissioner who is spearheading the SSC Hindi paper leak case in which Telangana BJP state president Bandi Sanjay has been booked lashed out at the BJP MP for tarnishing his image.

Karimnagar MP Bandi Sanjay, currently facing probe in the SSC paper leak case, alleged that Warangal commissioner A.V. Ranganath is involved in settlements and land deals. In a public statement made on 10 April, the MP said the officer earned money through corrupt means. He even cited the case of a young Dr. Preethi from Warangal who was harassed and murdered by her senior and said it was a case of love Jihad.

Bandi Sanjay was arrested on 5 April by the Warangal police over the alleged leak of Secondary School Examination papers. He was picked up in the middle of the night and placed initially under preventive arrest. However, he was granted conditional bail on 6 April.

Speaking to NewsMeter, the Warangal police commissioner said, “The MP has alleged that I was part of cases where a certain community has benefitted. Bandi Sanjay attempted to give a communal twist to Dr. Preethi’s case by calling it love jihad. This is completely false. It is an attempt to tarnish my image and even twist facts. I demand the MP to prove any wrongdoing by me. I served in many commissionerate across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh. I demand the MP submit evidence against me.”

He further added, “I was transferred to Warangal five months ago. I have no personal enmity with any politicians or party. I am doing my job here. MP Bandi Sanjay was arrested based on crucial evidence. It is to note that on 10 April, senior politician and MLA Etala Rajender came to the commissioner following a notice. We followed all the procedures and questioned him. Our job is to hunt for evidence and not witch hunt.”

The commissioner has alleged that Bandi Sanjay is attempting to intimidate the investigating agency. In a public statement, the MP alleged that false cases have been fostered against him. “If the MP is threatening the commissioner, what would be the confidence of an inspector or the investigating officer in this case? Bandi Sanjay is making personal slander remarks against me,” the commissioner added.

Telangana govt says Bandi Sanjay not cooperating with investigation

The Telangana government has told the High Court that BJP state president Bandi Sanjay is not cooperating with the investigation into the SSC question paper leak case.

Advocate General informed the court that Bandi Sanjay is not cooperating with the investigating officer. He said the BJP leader is not handing over his mobile phone, which is a crucial aspect of the investigation. He said the delay in handing over the cell phone leads to the destruction of evidence, which may pave the way for the culprits to evade punishment.

After hearing the contentions of both parties, the Chief Justice directed the Advocate General to file an appropriate affidavit in the court for passing orders. Later, he adjourned the matter till 21 April.

The case

The Kamalapur police, which falls under the 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.

A picture of the SSC Hindi question paper was taken at 9.45 a.m., around 15 minutes after the exam commenced, on 4 April. Former journalist Boora Prashanth sent the question paper to several people, including BJP Telangana state president Bandi Sanjay, at 11.18 a.m. However, probe revealed multiple WhatsApp chats and 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 5 April. For example, Andhra Jyothi newspaper carried Bandi Sanjay’s press statement which matches their conversation that happened on 3 April. Please note that Prashanth worked with HMTV, NaMo TV from Warangal.

In a midnight operation, Bandi Sanjay was taken into preventive custody in connection with the SSC Hindi question paper leak, and was later arrested. The Karimnagar police picked him up from his residence after midnight. He was shifted to the Bommala Ramaram police station in Yadadri Bhongir district. The police accused him of being involved in the SSC Hindi examination question paper leak.

“Currently, accused two, B. Prashanth, is not associated with any media organisation. While accused three, Mahesh, is a lab technician. The crime took place on 5 April, 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. We arrested Bandi Sanjay not only because he received a WhatsApp message but their WhatsApp chats revealed the conspiracy,” said CP Ranganath.

The remand copy added, “This is a case of pre-planned and evil designed criminal conspiracy malpractices in SSC public examination with an intention to create rumours and provoke breach of peace of the ongoing public examination in the TS state. Wherein 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 on the cell phone. Bandi Sanjay gave direction to Prashanth to exploit the situation of leakage of Telugu question papers which happened on 3 and 4 April. The accused involved would then circulate the same to defame the government and officials.”

"The probe also found many calls between Prashanth and Bandi Sanjay. The conspiracy begins after the picture is sent to BJP leaders. For questions about arrest without a warrant, we have exercised power under 41 CrPc. We have followed all procedures. We 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,” it added.

The accused include MP Bandi Sanjay, Boora Prashanth, G. Mahesh, and M. Shiva Ganesh, (minor). The absconding accused include Pogu Subhash, Pogu Shashank, and D. Srikanth. The remand report also includes the personal assistant of BJP MLA Etala Rajender.