Chebrolu Kiran Kumar’s arrest came a day after the Telugu Desam Party suspended him for his comments, made during a recent interview on a YouTube channel.
Published Apr 11, 2025 | 4:58 PM ⚊ Updated Apr 11, 2025 | 4:58 PM
Chebrolu Kiran Kumar in a video apologising for his remarks. (X)
Synopsis: A Telugu Desam Party worker has been arrested near Vijayawada for making obscene remarks about YS Bharati, the wife of former Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy. Chebrolu Kiran Kumar was detained on Friday, a day after TDP suspended him over the comments.
Andhra Pradesh Police on Friday, 11 April arrested a Telugu Desam Party (TDP) worker near Vijayawada for making obscene remarks about YS Bharati, wife of former Chief Minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Chebrolu Kiran Kumar’s arrest came a day after the Telugu Desam Party suspended him for his comments, made during a recent interview on a YouTube channel. In a statement, the party described his remarks as “indecent” and said it would not condone such behaviour.
The ruling party’s swift action is being widely viewed as a bid to present itself as impartial, especially amid criticism over recent police action against Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) leaders.
By distancing itself from its own worker, the party appears to be reinforcing a zero-tolerance stance on offensive conduct, regardless of political allegiance.
Police have booked Kumar under non-bailable sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita, along with Section 67A of the Information Technology (IT) Act, which relates to the publication or transmission of material containing sexually explicit content targeting women.
Additional cases have been registered at Gannavaram police station in Krishna district and at Nagarampalem police station in Guntur.
Meanwhile, tensions escalated in Guntur during Kumar’s police transfer.
YSRCP leader and former Member of Parliament from Hindupur constituency, Gorantla Madhav, reportedly angered by Kumar’s comments, intercepted the convoy near the district Superintendent of Police’s office.
Madhav, himself a former police Circle Inspector, allegedly forced open the door of the police vehicle and tried to pull Kumar out.
Police said that he was informed legal proceedings were already underway. Still, he reportedly continued to behave aggressively, clashing with constables in an alleged attempt to curry favour with his party chief.
The situation worsened when Madhav, accompanied by three supporters, entered the Superintendent of Police office premises and allegedly made a second attempt to attack Kumar.
Police detained Madhav and his associates, removing them in a separate vehicle. They were initially held at the Superintendent of Police’s office before being transferred to Nagarampalem and later to Nallapadu police stations.
Charges have been filed against Madhav and his aides for obstructing police duties and attempting to assault a person in custody.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
