Crime Investigation Department (CID) offices in the State are fast turning into Andaman jails, said the senior TDP leader and party’s national official spokesperson, Kommareddy Pattabhiram, here on Tuesday.

Wishing the farmers who are on pada yatra from Amaravathi to Arasavalli a grand success, Pattabhiram told media persons here that the Chief Minister, Jagan Mohan Reddy, is getting impatient by the day as the anti-incumbency is fast growing. The ruling party leaders are only trying to stifle the voices of those who are questioning the Government on public issues, he said.

The State Government is totally misusing the institutions only to create trouble to those who are standing by the people and this has become most widespread of late, Pattabhiram felt. The ruling party is resorting to a vengeful attitude and is completely misusing the law and order system as false cases are being foisted against those who raise public issues, he noted.

Now physical attacks have become very common and this practice is more prevalent in the CID offices, he noted. Even their own party MP, Raghurama Krishnam Raju, is not an exception and TDP leader Vengal Rao too was subjected to such harassment recently. The TDP national spokesperson made it clear that such threats will not deter the TDP leaders from fighting for the public cause.

He asked as to why cases are being registered against the TDP national general secretary, Nara Lokesh and another party leader, Chintakayala Vijay, on the ‘dirty’ videos of their own party MP, Gorantlal Madhav. No action has been taken yet on the complaint lodged with none other than the DGP by women from the TDP and other organisations and till now Gorantla Madhav has been interrogated on his ‘dirty’ videos, he said.

“Is it wrong to question Minister Ambati Rambabu and other YSRCP leader Avanthi Srinivas,” Pattabhiram asked and said that atrocities on women have become a common practice in Andhra Pradesh now. During British rule, those who raised their voices were shifted to Andaman and were subjected to harassment. Now in Andhra Pradesh, such persons are being shifted to CID offices, which have turned into Andaman jails, he said.

The Telugu Desam Party (TDP) on Saturday expressed serious concern over the alarming economic situation in the State.

Party spokesperson Kommareddy Pattabhiram told media persons at the party office here that for the past few months the whole nation has been discussing the financial crisis in the State, particularly after the scary Sri Lankan situation, the situation is more alarming. Serious debates are going on in the State going for debts under various heads, including in the name of corporations, and the huge amount of interest being paid, he said.

Pointing out that a whopping Rs 25,000 cr loan is raised from different banks by setting up a company in the name of Andhra Pradesh State Development Corporation and this amount is being diverted, Pattabhiram said and clarified that the TDP is opposing only such diversion of funds but not spending money to take up welfare schemes.

Even the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) pointed out that the guidelines issued by the bank are thrown to the winds while raising loans. After observing all this, the RBI issued revised guidelines to the scheduled banks on June 14, 2022 that the norms be strictly followed.

When the RBI issued such clear instructions, the State Government violated all the norms and issued various GOs setting up corporations like the APSDC, he said adding that this is the performance of the State Government. “Implementation and funding of Jagananna Amma Vodi Programme for the financial year 2020-21 by Andhra Pradesh State Development Corporation” mentioned in the GO No 3, issued on January 8, 2021, is nothing but to swallow the funds, he said.

The agreement made in the name of the Governor clearly mentions that even if the State revenue falls after imposing prohibition and the revenue from the Excise Departments falls, the banks are not responsible as the State Government stands guarantee to repay. Also, the pact clearly mentions that the State Government is considered as the principal debtor.

At least Rs 10 lakh crore is credited to Mr Jagan accounts and the people should, at least now, realise the economic condition of the State after the RBI’s letter and what reply the Finance Minister, Mr Buggana Rjendranath Reddy, will give now, Pattabhi asked.

A city court on Thursday sent Telugu Desam Party (TDP) spokesman K. Pattabhi Ram to judicial custody for 14 days for allegedly using abusive words against Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy.

Ram — arrested on Wednesday night, was produced in Third Additional Metropolitan Court, which remanded him to judicial custody for two weeks.

The opposition party leader was subsequently shifted to Machilipatnam Jail.

After the arrest from his house amid high drama, Ram was taken to Thotlavalluru Police Station.

The TDP leader’s lawyer moved the bail petition but the government’s counsel opposed the same citing several cases booked against him in the past. After hearing the arguments of both sides, the magistrate rejected the bail plea and sent him to judicial custody.

Meanwhile, Ram said he was not beaten up by police during the custody. He, however, denied that he used any abusive word against the chief minister or any other leader and said he was only highlighting the government’s failures.

Ram was arrested from his house by the police on Wednesday night, a day after his remarks triggered a huge backlash from alleged supporters of ruling YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) who attacked the TDP’s central office at Mangalagiri in Amaravati and party offices in other parts of the state.

Pattabhi Ram’s house was also attacked by unidentified people on Tuesday.

Ram’s wife Chandra said he was arrested by policemen after breaking open the door. She said if anything happened to him, the government will be responsible.

According to police, the TDP leader was arrested in connection with a case booked against him at Governorpet Police Station. He was booked under Indian Penal Code (IPC) sections 153A (Promoting enmity between different groups on grounds of religion, race, place of birth, residence, language, etc., and doing acts prejudicial to maintenance of harmony), 505 (2) (Statements conducing to public mischief), 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 504 (Intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of the peace) read with 120B (criminal conspiracy).