Kodela Sivaprasada Rao, Former Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker, Booked For Diversion of Official Furniture During His Tenure
Rao, a senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader, had earlier rejected the allegations levelled against him calling it political vendetta. Speaking to reporters before the official complaint was registered, the former Speaker said he had transferred some of the computers for security reasons when the Legislature was being shifted to Amravati.
Amravati, August 25: Former Andhra Pradesh Assembly Speaker Kodela Sivaprasada Rao has been booked by the Thulluru police in Amravati district for "diversion" of official furniture for personal use. The FIR against him was registered based on the complaint of M Eswara Rao, an official from the State Legislative Assembly.
Eswara Rao, in his complaint to the police, said the costly sofa sets, tables, chairs, computers and air conditioners installed at Rao's son K Shivaram's automobile showroom are the properties of the Legislative Assembly. Andhra Pradesh: 10 TDP MLAs Ready to Join YSRCP if Jagan Mohan Reddy Accepts, Says M Srinivasa Rao
Based on the prima facie investigation, Rao and Shivaram have been booked under sections 409 and 411 (dishonestly receiving stolen property) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), a police official privy to the case confirmed.
As per the complainant, the furniture and other high-end gadgets and equipments were stolen from the Assembly Speaker's Office in 2017, when the Legislature was being permanently shifted from Hyderabad to the proposed capital of Amravati.
Rao, a senior Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader, had earlier rejected the allegations levelled against him calling it political vendetta. Speaking to reporters before the official complaint was registered, the former Speaker said he had transferred some of the computers for security reasons when the Legislature was being shifted to Amravati.
According to Thulluru's Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Y Srinivasa Reddy, the police officials raided Gautam Automotives Showroom at Chuttugunta in Guntur town, belonging to Kodela’s son, and found the alleged stolen items. Though their exact value is yet to be estimated, the Assembly staff have pegged it at around Rs 2 crore, he said.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Aug 25, 2019 09:52 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).