September 14, 2018:

Andhra Pradesh's CM, N Chandrababu Naidu & 15 others, then in the Opposition in United Andhra Pradesh, were arrested & put in a Pune Jail in their connection with the Agitation cited by them near the Babli Project Site in Maharashtra.

TDP in response has called up for 'Protests' across Andhra Pradesh & Telangana after a Court in Maharashtra issued a non-bailable Arrest Warrant against Andhra Pradeshs' Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and 15 Others in connection with a Case dating back to July 2010.

Judicial Magistrate (First Class) N R Gajbhiye directed the Police to arrest all the accused and present them in Court by September 21.

TDP Leaders stated that the Arrest Warrant stink of Political Vendetta by BJP.

Telangana TDP President L Ramana announced,“This is nothing but a conspiracy by the BJP to intimidate TDP. BJP is afraid of the alliance that TDP is forming in Telangana and the arrest warrant, which had expired, has been renewed to intimidate us.”

Information Technology Minister, N Lokesh ( Naidu’s son) has defended his father and the other TDP Leaders would present before the Court. He went on saying, “He fought to protect the interests of Telangana. He even refused to seek bail when he was arrested.”

TDP Leader B Venkanna remarked,“It is revenge politics by BJP, PM Modi and Amit Shah.”

Dharmabad Court had issued the Arrest Warrant on July 5, which was to be executed by August 16. The warrant was re-issued for September 21 after a Nanded Resident moved to the Court, stating 'No Action' was taken on the Arrest Warrant.

Apart from Mr. Naidu, State Water Resources Minister Devineni Umamaheswara Rao, Social Welfare Minister N Anand Babu and former MLA G Kamalakar (who subsequently joined TRS) were among those booked in the case.

Case Details

TDP leaders, in leadership of Naidu, crossed over from Telangana to Maharashtra to cite protest at Babli Barrage in Nanded District on July 18, 2010. The leaders, who were in the opposition in United Andhra at the time, were protesting against the 'Dam' across Godavari. Reason being the water flow to the areas located downstream in Telangana would get affected.

Nanded MP Bhaskarrao Khatgaonkar and Nanded MLA Omprakash Pokarna strongly opposed the protest and demanded action against them. In response, the TDP leaders were taken into custody by the Police and put up in Pune Jail.

They were charged under Sections 353, 324, 332, 336, 337, 323, 504, 506, 109 and 34 of the IPC, which pertain to Assault or Criminal force to prevent Public Servant from discharge of his duty, voluntarily causing hurt by dangerous weapons or means, act endangering life or personal safety of others, criminal intimidation among others.

Naidu was sent back on a flight while the others were told to leave the same evening.

Source : Agencies

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