Hyderabad: In a notable twist in Telangana’s political landscape, BRS MLA Padi Kaushik Reddy was arrested Saturday at Shamshabad airport in connection with an alleged extortion case involving a granite businessman, police said.
The Huzurabad legislator was taken into custody by Subedari police from Warangal shortly after landing at the airport. He was transported directly to the Subedari Police Station, where he was booked under Sections 308(2), 308(4), and 352 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
Police said Kaushik Reddy allegedly demanded Rs 50 lakh from a granite trader named Manoj, who runs a quarry in Vangapalli, Kamalapur mandal. A formal complaint was lodged by Manoj’s wife, Umadevi.
Prior to the arrest, the MLA had approached the Telangana High Court seeking the quashing of the case. The petition was filed in April. The High Court had initially granted a stay on arrest but directed Reddy to cooperate with the investigation.
However, the court dismissed his petition on June 16. With the legal barrier lifted, Subedari police proceeded with the arrest.
He is expected to be produced in court later in the day, following which he will be shifted to judicial custody.
