Published Jan 28, 2026 | 7:51 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 28, 2026 | 7:51 PM
Sexual assault. (Representationl/ iStock)
Synopsis: The development comes amid mounting controversy after a married woman, a state government employee, publicly accused the MLA of subjecting her to sustained mental and sexual harassment over a period of nearly one-and-a-half years. The allegations have placed the TDP-led NDA government under intense political pressure, given that Jana Sena is a key ally in the ruling coalition.
The Jana Sena Party (JSP) on Wednesday, 28 January, decided to constitute a three-member committee to inquire into serious allegations of sexual misconduct levelled against its Railway Koduru MLA, Arava Sridhar, which set off a major political storm in Andhra Pradesh.
JSP State Executive has taken note of media reports and the allegations made by a woman against the MLA and decided to conduct an internal inquiry to ascertain the facts. The committee comprises T. Shivashankar, Tamballapalli Ramadevi and T.C. Varun.
In an official release, Jana Sena chief Pawan Kalyan’s political secretary P Hari Prasad stated that Arava Sridhar has been directed to appear before the committee and submit his explanation within seven days.
The committee will examine the veracity of the allegations and submit a detailed report to the party leadership. Pending the inquiry and until a final decision is taken, the party has asked Sridhar to stay away from all party activities.
The woman released her chats, purportedly with MLA Arava Sridhar, to support her allegations.
The development comes amid mounting controversy after a married woman, a state government employee, publicly accused the MLA of subjecting her to sustained mental and sexual harassment over a period of nearly one-and-a-half years. The allegations have placed the TDP-led NDA government under intense political pressure, given that Jana Sena is a key ally in the ruling coalition.
The woman alleged that the MLA engaged in improper conduct, repeatedly exploited her physically, and exerted mental pressure. She also released what she claimed were intimate videos and WhatsApp chat records, which were widely circulated on social media, fuelling public debate and sharp reactions from rival political parties.
She has also written to Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, seeking justice and urging him to order a thorough and impartial inquiry into the allegations. According to her claims, the MLA had defamed her, promised marriage and later reneged on it. She further alleged that she was forced to terminate multiple pregnancies during the alleged relationship.
The controversy has also drawn attention to a Jana Sena press release issued a few days earlier, in which party workers were cautioned against alleged attempts by political opponents to tarnish the party’s image by raking up “extra-marital” issues involving its leaders. The statement by party chief and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan is now being widely interpreted as having been prompted by the unfolding allegations against Sridhar.
Adding to the uproar, an audio recording purportedly featuring the woman went viral on social media, containing allegations of prolonged sexual exploitation and threats. She claimed that the MLA abused his position to intimidate her and warned her of professional consequences if she resisted his demands. She later held a media conference, describing how she has been exploited by the MLA
Denying all charges, Sridhar has maintained that he is being deliberately defamed through what he described as fabricated and fake videos. He claimed that the allegations were part of a larger conspiracy to malign his image and damage the Jana Sena Party.
Meanwhile, the MLA’s family has also rejected the allegations, terming them baseless. The Railway Koduru police have registered a case based on a complaint lodged by Sridhar’s mother Prameela earlier this month. Police officials have said that the matter is under investigation and that action would be taken in accordance with the law.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
