Published Sep 08, 2026 | 8:47 AM ⚊ Updated Sep 08, 2026 | 9:13 AM
Madhu made the remarks during an altercation with the police for disrupting a protest by BRS leaders outside the Assembly.
Synopsis: Tata Madhu reportedly said that BRS chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao stayed away from House sessions because he did not wish to address the Speaker as “sir.” He also addressed the Speaker disrespectfully and made derogatory remarks about his mother. The MLC’s remarks sparked strong condemnation from the ruling Congress, and the ministers and legislators met Kumar and pledged solidarity with him.
The Telangana police arrested BRS MLC Tata Madhu on Tuesday, 8 September, for abusing Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.
The MLC was arrested under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, based on a complaint by the Speaker’s Officer on Special Duty, Pollepalli Venkatesham. The complaint said Madhu had abused the Speaker using casteist slurs and obscene language.
Police arrested the MLC at his residence in the New MLA Quarters and shifted him to the Saifabad police station. Another MLC, Naveen Kumar Reddy, too, has been taken into custody.
Madhu made the alleged remarks during an altercation with the police for disrupting a protest by BRS leaders outside the Assembly on Monday, 7 September. Police have registered cases against 14 BRS MLAs following the altercation.
He reportedly said that BRS chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao stayed away from House sessions because he did not wish to address the Speaker as “sir.” He also addressed the Speaker disrespectfully and made derogatory remarks about his mother.
The MLC’s remarks sparked strong condemnation from the ruling Congress, and the ministers and legislators met Kumar, a Dalit, in solidarity with him.
A move to debate the issue was disrupted amid objections from BJP members. BC Welfare Minister Ponnam Prabhakar accused the BJP of shielding BRS by stalling the discussion and demanded that atrocity charges be registered against the members involved.
Madhu denied insulting the Speaker or Council Chairman. Speaking to the media, he admitted to making objectionable remarks but said those were directed at police personnel who mistreated BRS legislators.
Also Read: Congress demands action against BRS MLC Madhu
Meanwhile, on Monday, the Telangana High Court directed the state police not to stop legislators from entering the Assembly after BRS MLAs were intercepted and allegedly manhandled outside the complex.
Justice Tangirala Madhavi Devi passed the order on a writ petition filed by BRS Legislature Party, represented by Deputy Floor Leader Talasani Srinivas Yadav, against the state government, the Director General of Police, the Hyderabad police commissioner, and other officials.
The plea said BRS legislators heading to the Assembly for the Eighth Session of Telangana Legislative Assembly on Monday were stopped by police at the gates.
Senior counsel for the petitioner told the court that former Minister and MLA Sunitha Laxma Reddy was stopped and had her saree pulled. In contrast, another legislator, former state home minister Sabitha Indra Reddy, was allegedly held by the neck.
Photographs of the incident, and of male legislators who were reportedly injured and treated by doctors, were placed before the court.
Counsel argued the police had no authority to bar lawmakers from entering the House, and that any issue over their black T-shirts bearing anti-government slogans was a matter for the Speaker, not the police.
The Government Pleader for Home pointed to Assembly rules barring members from displaying badges, flags or exhibits without the Speaker’s consent, but sought time to get instructions on the matter.
The court ruled that police cannot stop legislators from entering the Assembly, and that the Speaker must deal with any rule violation. It also directed the DGP to identify the police personnel involved, take strict action against them, and file a report.
The case will next come up on 21 September.
