Published Oct 07, 2026 | 9:31 AM ⚊ Updated Oct 07, 2026 | 9:32 AM
The video showed the man, purportedly Congress MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy, repeatedly touching the student despite her visible discomfort.
Synopsis: Congress MLA from Ibrahimpatnam, Malreddy Ranga Reddy, sparked a controversy in Telangana after he allegedly touched a female college student inappropriately while engaging with the beneficiaries of the Mahalakshmi scheme on a moving RTC bus. Singer Chinmayi urged the Congress to teach its men to behave with women, while BRS general secretary RS Praveen Kumar demanded that police register a case against the lawmaker.
Telangana Congress MLA Malreddy Ranga Reddy came under criticism after a video, purportedly of him inappropriately touching a female college student on a moving government-operated bus, was widely circulated on social media.
The incident occurred while the bus was heading to Yamjal from Ibrahimpatnam in Telangana’s Ranga Reddy district on Tuesday, 6 October. Reddy boarded the bus to engage with beneficiaries of the state government’s flagship Mahalakshmi Free Ride scheme for women, girls and transgender people.
While interacting with the college student — who claimed that the scheme had helped her save ₹45,000 — Ibrahimpatnam MLA Reddy allegedly touched her inappropriately despite the young woman’s body language reflecting visible discomfort.
The video showed the 70-year-old man holding her hand even as she tried to pull away.
The incident drew criticism from various quarters. Playback singer Chinmayi Sripada took to X, saying the MLA has “no idea of consent”.
“The Congress needs to train its male politicians to keep their hands off girls. His banal conversation doesn’t need him to repeatedly touch her. Doesn’t matter how old he is – she is not comfortable, and this man has no idea of consent,” she said.
Condemning the incident, former IPS officer-turned-politician RS Praveen Kumar urged the SHE Teams and Women Safety Wing to book the MLA for the alleged inappropriate act.
“Take a complaint from RTC conductor and book under 354 IPC,” the BRS general secretary said. “Both BJP and Congress are competing with each other in insulting women [sic],” Kumar alleged.
(Edited by Majnu Babu).
