Ex-BRS MLA Manchireddy Kishan Reddy, IAS officer Amoy Kumar booked in SC, ST Atrocities case

HYDERABAD: Rachakonda Police have booked a case against former Ranga Reddy district collector Amoy Kumar and former BRS Ibrahimpatnam MLA Manchireddy Kishan Reddy for allegedly threatening and using casteist slurs against Kappari Sravanthi, the chairperson of Ibrahimpatnam municipality.

Sravanthi made serious accusations, claiming that Kishan Reddy demanded Rs 2.5 crore for her election as the municipal chairperson. She asserted that her refusal to allow the alienation of municipality lands created animosity from the former MLA. Sravanthi said that collector Amoy Kumar summoned her to his office, where he allegedly threatened to suspend her from her position.

Sravanthi, belonging to the Budaga Jangalu Caste, detailed how her father-in-law, Kappari Laxmaiah, previously served as the sarpanch of Ibrahimpatam. The sequence of events began in December 2019 when the Telangana Election Commission announced the municipal elections. Manchireddy Kishan Reddy purportedly offered Sravanthi the chairperson position, demanding Rs 3 crore in return. Facing financial constraints, Sravanthi's family borrowed money, paying Rs 2.5 crore to the MLA. Despite the financial transaction, Sravanthi won the election and assumed the chairpersonship of Ibrahimpatnam Municipality.

However, trouble arose as Sravanthi resisted attempts to alienate gram panchayat and municipality lands. This resistance led to personal animosity from MLA Manchireddy and other councillors. Sravanthi reported mental harassment, abusive language, and insulting behavior from the MLA.

The situation escalated when the MLA, along with his son Prasanth Reddy, allegedly took ₹2 crore from the vice-chairman to secure his position as the chairperson of Ibrahimpatnam Municipality. Municipal commissioner Mohd. Yousuf was allegedly instructed by the MLA to allocate a separate chamber to the vice-chairman, pressuring Sravanthi to apply for a 6-month leave.

Amidst this turmoil, Collector Amoy Kumar summoned Sravanthi to the Hyderabad Collectorate office on July 5, 2022. In this meeting, he allegedly pressured her to take leave or threatened her of suspension. Shockingly, Amoy Kumar purportedly made caste-based remarks, suggesting that individuals from lower castes should not challenge those from upper castes.

Kappari Sravanthi has sought necessary action against Manchireddy Kishan Reddy, Manchireddy Prasanth Reddy, Amoy Kumar, and Mohd. Yousuf. Rachakonda police have registered a case under Section 3(1)(r)(s) of the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act and Sections 504 and 506 of the IPC.