Madanapalle Sub-Collector office blaze: Former YSRCP minister Peddireddy’s PA residence raided in Hyderabad
Searches were also conducted at the residence of former YSRCP MLA Nawaz Basha
By Sri Lakshmi Muttevi Published on 29 July 2024 5:18 AM GMT
Hyderabad: A joint team of AP police and CID raided the residence of Shashikant, personal assistant (PA) of former YSRCP minister and MLA Peddireddy Ramachandra Reddy, in connection with the fire incident at the Madanapalle Sub-Collector’s office.
Searches were also conducted at the residence of former YSRCP MLA Nawaz Basha, but he was not present. He was reportedly in Bengaluru.
Sources said searches were conducted at Shashikant's residence in Ayyappa Society locality in Hyderabad on Sunday. After getting a whiff of searches, Sashikant allegedly locked the house and melted away. However, police got the keys from the flat owner and conducted the searches in his presence. Subsequently, police issued summons to Shashikant for questioning.
Police seized several documents from the flat.
Searches were also conducted at the residence of former YSRCP MLA Nawaz Basha, but he was reportedly not present at his home. He was away in Bengaluru.
Officials issued a notice under Section 41-A before taking further action. When police contacted him, Nawaz told them that he would return immediately and make himself available for questioning. On Sunday evening, he reached his residence at Madanapalle.
On July 21, a fire broke out at the sub-collector’s office at Madanapalle destroying 2,440 files. A preliminary inquiry report submitted by Special Chief Secretary (Revenue) RP Sisodia, ruled out a short circuit.
Speaking to the media, DGP CH Dwaraka Tirumala Rao ruled out the ‘short-circuit’ angle to the major fire. The fire broke out in the section where 22A files, critical documents related to assigned lands, birth and death certificates, and alienation of lands were kept.
During the investigation, police found fresh matchsticks near the window and recovered a heap of burnt files about 50 meters away.
Though no formal arrests have been made, Madanapalle Municipality vice-chairman Jinka Chalapathi and a few YSRCP cadre were detained by the police for questioning on Saturday.
Earlier, RP Sisodia received several petitions about land grabbing and other land-related issues at the sub-collector’s office. Farmers of the Madanapalle revenue division are worried after important land records were damaged in the fire incident.
