Kurnool police book YSRCP youth leader for allegedly defaming Industries Minister

The Kurnool police on Tuesday registered a case against YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) youth leader Byreddy Siddharth Reddy for allegedly insulting and harming the reputation of Industries and Commerce Minister T.G. Bharath Gupta. Mr. Siddharth Reddy had levelled allegations against the Minister, claiming that he was involved in the collection of money from a pharma company during a recent protest held in Kurnool.

In a complaint given to III Town Police Station, Mr. Bharath Gupta stated that Siddharth Reddy, along with another leader S.V. Mohan Reddy, staged a demonstration in front of the Collectorate in Kurnool town on May 14 alleging that their party activist was being harassed. Mr. Bharath, who produced the videos of a speech during the protest, said Mr. Siddharth Reddy alleged that he had taken ₹45 crore from a pharma company without the knowledge of IT and HRD Minister Nara Lokesh.

Mr. Bharath also claimed that the YSRCP youth leader had made certain remarks casting aspersions that he had amassed ill-gotten money and land. “Mr. Siddharth Reddy has also accused me of maintaining faction politics,” Mr. Bharath said and sought action against the YSRCP leader.

The Minister also urged police to take action and ensure that the alleged remarks made by Mr. Siddharth Reddy are removed from all social media platforms.

The complaint was lodged on Tuesday (May 19) and police registered case under Sections 351, 352, 353 (2), 356 (1), 356 (2) of BNS for investigation.