BRS MLC Tata Madhu arrested over abusive remarks against Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar

Synopsis: Tata Madhu reportedly said that BRS chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao stayed away from House sessions because he did not wish to address the Speaker as “sir.” He also addressed the Speaker disrespectfully and made derogatory remarks about his mother.

Arrest and charges

The MLC's remarks sparked strong condemnation from the ruling Congress, and the ministers and legislators met Kumar and pledged solidarity with him.

The Telangana police arrested BRS MLC Tata Madhu on Tuesday, 8 September, for abusing Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.

The MLC was arrested under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act, based on a complaint by the Speaker's Officer on Special Duty, Pollepalli Venkatesham.

The complaint said Madhu had abused the Speaker using casteist slurs and obscene language.

Police arrested the MLC at his residence in the New MLA Quarters and shifted him to the Saifabad police station.

Another MLC, Naveen Kumar Reddy, too, has been taken into custody.

Madhu made the alleged remarks during an altercation with the police for disrupting a protest by BRS leaders outside the Assembly on Monday, 7 September.