Jana Sena Party chief and Andhra Pradesh deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan is unlikely to take any disciplinary action against controversial party MLA from Railway Koduru constituency Arava Sridhar, who has been facing allegations of sexual harassment of a woman government employee.
According to party sources, Pawan may let off Sridhar with a strict warning that he should not to bring any disgrace to the party with his personal affairs.
The deputy chief minister is learnt to have felt that the allegations against the MLA were purely his personal matter and have nothing to do with the party.
The three-member committee constituted by the Jana Sena Party to investigate against the MLA has already conducted extensive visits to Railway Koduru and surrounding areas, recording statements from multiple individuals.
As part of the investigation, the committee has contacted both MLA Sridhar and the woman who has levelled allegations against him. She had accused Sridhar of sexually exploiting her and later abandoning her.
She alleged that the two had recorded videos and that Sridhar used to make video calls even from the assembly premises.
The committee invited Veena to appear before it and present her version of events, assuring her of a fair and impartial inquiry.
However, she did not attend the hearing. Subsequently, the committee directed MLA Sridhar to appear before it and provide an explanation regarding the allegations.
Responding to the developments, committee member Shivashankar said the inquiry was being conducted from all angles and that a comprehensive report would soon be submitted to party chief Pawan Kalyan.
He stated that around 50 individuals in Railway Koduru had been examined as part of the probe and that Sridhar had been asked to submit his explanation within a week.
Shivashankar noted that although Veena did not appear before the committee, details she sent in a sealed cover would be examined.
He emphasised that the matter was a personal dispute between Sridhar and Veena and not related to the Jana Sena Party. He urged against attempts to drag the party into the issue.
Sridhar too has maintained that the allegations are unrelated to the party, effectively indicating that Jana Sena has officially distanced itself from the controversy.