'Entire drama scripted by KCR': BJP on TRS' allegation of poaching bid

Hyderabad: Rejecting the charge that his party was trying to poach Telangana Rashtra Samithi (TRS) MLAs, Telangana Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Bandi Sanjay on Thursday said that Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao has scripted the raids at a farmhouse and demanded a probe by a sitting judge. The BJP chief said that if KCR is not responsible for this then he should come to Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and swear on God.

"Story-Screenplay-Direction by CM KCR at Moinabad Farmhouse Boomeranged and is laughable. It`s TRS` farmhouse, TRS complained, TRS are victims, TRS are criminals. KCR if you haven`t scripted this, come to Yadadri Lakshmi Narasimha Swamy temple and swear on God - You fix time and date," said Sanjay.

The BJP leader alleged that the TRS leaders are staying at a hotel for the last three-four days.

"Do you have the guts to fully release CCTV footage of the last 3-4 days in Deccan Kitchen Hotel? TRS leaders have been staying there for 3 days. The accused MLA goes to Pragathi Bhavan every morning and stays till night. Release Pragati Bhavan`s CCTV footage and let the facts come out," he said.

Sanjay also questioned, "Why was the statement of MLAs not recorded? Why weren`t they taken to the police station but left for Pragathi Bhavan? What were MLAs gunmen doing? The key role of the police officer in this drama will be exposed. In past, this police officer has shown zeal on a false murder attempt on the minister."

He said that TRS MLA himself accepted that KCR sketched this drama.

"Whom did Swamiji meet when he recently performed pooja near Parigi. If KCR has guts, he should reveal the call list of four MLAs, Swamijis and the accused. TRS MLA himself accepted that KCR sketched this drama. There are reports of negotiations in Bangalore, all of them have to be disclosed," he further said.

"The entire drama should be investigated by a sitting judge. Some TRS leaders are overreaching, at Telangana BJP will expose you publicly. Your political career is on its way to the graveyard," Sanjay added.

Meanwhile, Cyberabad Police late Wednesday raided a farmhouse in Ranga Reddy district of Telangana, on the outskirts of Hyderabad, and detained three people for allegedly attempting to poach MLAs of the TRS with the promise of huge amounts of money.

Following a complaint of TRS MLA Pilot Rohith Reddy on Wednesday, an FIR was registered at the Moinabad Police Station under Sections 120-B, 171-B r/w 171-E 506 r/w 34 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) and Section 8 of Prevention of Corruption Act-1988.

The three accused have been identified as Ramachandra Bharati, Nanda Kumar and Simhayaji Swamy.

In the FIR, Reddy alleged that Ramachandra Bharati who came to Hyderbad from Delhi and Nanda Kumar of Hyderabad, both belonging to the Bharatiya Janata Party had met him and offered him Rs 100 crore to join the BJP.

According to the FIR, MLA Rohith Reddy also alleged that they were threatened that criminal cases will be foisted against him and raids by the Enforcement Directorate (ED) and the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) if they did not join the BJP.

The raids were conducted on Wednesday after Police received information from TRS MLAs that they were being lured and added that they noticed the presence of the three persons, who were subsequently detained.

"We received information from TRS MLAs that they were being lured, by money, contracts, and posts. We raided the farmhouse and noticed three persons. We will initiate legal action and carry investigation into the luring matter," Cyberabad Commissioner of Police Stephen Raveendra said.