Published Jan 22, 2023 | 2:27 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 22, 2023 | 2:27 PM
IAS officer Smita Sabharwal. (Twitter)
A Telangana government officer has been arrested for “intruding” into the house of senior Indian Administrative Service officer (IAS) Smita Sabharwal in Hyderabad.
A deputy tahsildar rank officer went into the house of Sabharwal, who is secretary to Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao, at around 11.30 pm on Saturday, 21 January.
The IAS officer raised an alarm on finding him in her house, located in the Jubilee Hills area of Hyderabad. The security staff at the bureaucrat’s house caught the man and handed him over to police.
The intruder was identified as Deputy Tahsildar Anand Reddy. He was accompanied by a friend, who was waiting in the car outside the house. He was also caught and handed over to the police.
“Had this most harrowing experience, a night back when an intruder broke into my house. I had the presence of mind to deal and save my life. Lessons: no matter how secure you think you are – always check the doors/locks personally. #Dial100 in emergency,” Sabharwal tweeted.
Had this most harrowing experience, a night back when an intruder broke into my house. I had the presence of mind to deal and save my life.
Lessons: no matter how secure you think you are- always check the doors/ locks personally.#Dial100 in emergency— Smita Sabharwal (@SmitaSabharwal) January 22, 2023
The deputy tahsildar has been booked under Section 458 (lurking, trespass or house-breaking by night after preparation for hurt, assault or wrongful restraint) of IPC based on the complaint lodged by the IAS officer, a police official at Jubilee Hills Police Station told South First.
The duo was subsequently arrested and have been lodged in a central prison in Hyderabad.
According to the police, Anand Reddy and his friend came near the IAS officer’s house at Jubilee Hills. He showed his ID to the security personnel, told him the IAS officer’s house number, and proceeded further.
According to Anand Reddy, he had gone to the IAS officer’s house as he wanted to speak to her about some matter related to his job, police said on Sunday.
The deputy tahsildar has claimed that he was facing problems in getting a promotion and had gone to the IAS officer’s house to seek help in the matter, the police official said.
“However, a police custody petition will be filed (in the court) and we will take them into custody and interrogate them to ascertain the truth,” he added.
