Controversial Jana Sena Party MLA from Railway Koduru assembly constituency in Annamayya district Arava Sridhar, who has been asked to keep away from the party activities following allegations of sexual assault on a woman government employee, is back in the new for wrong reasons again.
On Thursday night, after a group of Jana Sena Party leaders and activists allegedly attacked the same woman who had earlier levelled sexual allegations against local MLA Arava Sridhar, along with her associates.
According to the police, the incident took place amid celebrations organised after Parliament approved the Amaravati capital bill. MLA Arava Sridhar, Jana Sena State Secretary Tatamsetti Nagendra, and several party workers had reportedly gathered on the town’s main road as part of the celebrations.
At around the same time, the woman who had made allegations against the MLA, accompanied by Gopi, the brother of her lawyer Azad Sai Krishna, arrived near a row of flower shops close to the tollgate area.
Police said that when Jana Sena leaders and supporters noticed the woman, they became agitated and allegedly chased her and those accompanying her. Despite the presence of local residents and police personnel, the situation quickly escalated into violence.
According to the complaint and the police version, Gopi was allegedly assaulted and chased along the road, with attackers reportedly warning him to leave the town.
The woman is said to have questioned why they were being attacked, but instead of responding, some of the assailants allegedly turned on her as well.
One of the most serious allegations in the case is that Tatamsetti Nagendra allegedly snatched a baton from a police officer and used it to attack the woman. The incident reportedly unfolded in full public view.
Adding to the gravity of the episode, a journalist who was filming the assault was also allegedly attacked. The assailants are said to have forcibly deleted the video footage from the reporter’s device.
Sources said MLA Arava Sridhar was present at the spot during the incident. However, it remains unclear whether he directly intervened to stop the violence or whether police have questioned him in connection with the episode.
The incident has raised serious concerns about law and order, political intimidation, and the safety of complainants in politically sensitive cases.
It has also sparked criticism over the alleged inability of police personnel at the scene to prevent the violence, despite their presence.
The police have booked a case of SC/ST atrocities (prevention) Act against Sridhar and his aides, based on the video evidence.