New Delhi: A case has been filed against former Andhra Pradesh assembly speaker Kodela Siva Prasad Rao after he admitted to ‘shifting’ assembly furniture and computers from the premises to his residence in Guntur.
According to reports, charges were filed under sections relating to criminal breach of trust by a public servant and dishonestly receiving stolen property at the Thullur police station in Guntur district. Assembly section officer Easwara Rao filed a complaint against the Telugu Desam Party (TDP).
Last week, the former assembly speaker had admitted to “shifting” the property. As speaker, he claimed he was the “custodian” of assembly property, saying he took the furniture and ACs to his office-residence in Sattenapalli in Guntur for “safe custody” after they were “retrieved” from the old Assembly in Hyderabad.
After the admission, officials from the assembly searched a showroom owned by Rao’s family on Friday, according to The News Minute. Though the staff and Rao’s lawyer attempted to halt the search, the officials reportedly identified 32 chairs, four sofas, three tables, one teapoy and other items that belong to the assembly.
Rao justified moving the property, saying if the furniture was left at the speaker’s chamber in Hyderabad, “maintenance may have been a problem”. According to The News Minute, he said, “They may not even have been secure. Due to this, I shifted the furniture to my camp office in Sattenapalli.”
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“I got a letter from the assembly secretary asking about the furniture and computers. I replied, stating that I would send the electronic items and furniture back and if needed I’m even willing to pay the price of the items, as we have used them,” he told the website.
The ruling YSR Congress pounced on Rao and the TDP, accusing the former speaker of “stealing” legislature property. Sattenapalli MLA Ambati Rambabu said that only because Rao was “exposed”, he is willing to return the property.
Andhra Pradesh director general of police Gautam Sawang transferred assembly chief marshall Ganesh Babu. According to reports, Ganesh allegedly co-operated with Rao to move the assembly property.
Rao is currently in a private hospital, where he was shifted after complaining of chest pain a few days ago.
Pressure on TDP
Earlier this month, a section of TDP workers protested at the party’s state office in Guntur, demanding Rao’s removal as the in-charge of the Sattenapalli constituency. After speaking with the agitating leaders and workers, party president and former chief minister N. Chandrababu Naidu told reporters that the party won’t hesitate to take action against top leaders. “We have already prepared a list of leaders who were involved in corrupt practices in the past five years when the TDP was in power,’’ he reportedly said.
There are also signs that the party may not back Rao. Speaking to the New Indian Express, a party leader said though the cases filed against former speaker’s family may be “politically motivated”, in the particular case of moving assembly furniture, “there is no need of protecting him”.
“If Kodela had done something in the interest of the party, then there is nothing wrong in the party going for his rescue. But if he did something for his personal benefit, what is the need for the party to support him? The party should not safeguard such persons,’’ a TDP leader opined.
Another party leader, Varla Ramaiah, said Rao should have “avoided the mistake”. “At least, he should have returned the furniture when his tenure ended. My personal observation is that such acts by leaders will cause great damage to the party,’’ Ramaiah told the New Indian Express.