Succumbing to pressure from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), the Gachibowli police on Saturday filed an attempted murder case (Section 307 of the Indian Penal Code) against Serilingampalli MLA Gandhi, who defected from the BRS to the Congress a couple of months ago.
Gandhi was charged with storming the residence of BRS legislator Padi Kaushik Reddy on Thursday and attacking him with eggs, tomatoes, and stones, in addition to vandalizing the premises and damaging the window panes of his house.
The case was registered following a complaint lodged by Kaushik Reddy. In addition to Gandhi, the police filed similar charges against his son and brother, as well as two corporators—Venkatesh Goud and Srikanth.
However, the police have not yet taken Gandhi into custody, though it may happen at any time, sources said, adding that he would be presented before the court for judicial remand.
Gandhi and Kaushik Reddy have been engaged in a war of words over the past two days after Gandhi was nominated as the chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC).
The BRS strongly opposed Gandhi’s appointment, as he had defected from the BRS to the Congress in July, and according to assembly traditions, the post should have been given to the opposition party.
While Gandhi claims that he is technically still a BRS member and is willing to meet party president and former Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao, Kaushik Reddy has demanded that Gandhi visit Telangana Bhavan, wear a pink scarf, and meet KCR if he has not indeed defected to the Congress.