Hyderabad: BRS MLC Tata Madhu was arrested by Saifabad Police on Tuesday in connection with a case involving alleged derogatory and abusive remarks against Telangana Legislative Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar. Another BRS MLC, N Naveen Kumar Reddy, was also arrested in connection with the case, adding to the political tensions between the Bharat Rashtra Samithi and the ruling Congress in Telangana.
According to police, the case was registered following a complaint filed by Pollepalli Venkatesham, the Officer on Special Duty to the Telangana Assembly Speaker. The complaint relates to an alleged incident that took place on Monday during the ongoing Assembly session.
Police said the alleged remarks were made in an area of the Assembly premises that was accessible to members of the media, Assembly staff and security personnel. The complaint alleged that Tata Madhu and N Naveen Kumar Reddy, along with their associates, made remarks against Speaker Gaddam Prasad Kumar.
The police registered the case under Section 352 read with Section 3(5) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. Provisions of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes Prevention of Atrocities Act were also invoked. The case was registered as Crime No. 364 of 2026 at Saifabad Police Station.
According to the complaint, the alleged incident occurred at around 9.30 am on Monday when the Assembly was in session and security arrangements were in place. The complainant alleged that the remarks were made in the presence of journalists, electronic media teams, Assembly employees and security personnel.
Police are investigating the allegations and are expected to examine available video recordings, media footage and statements from witnesses as part of the investigation. The allegations against the two legislators remain subject to the investigation and subsequent legal proceedings.
Tata Madhu was taken into custody from the New MLA Quarters in Hyderabad on Tuesday morning. N Naveen Kumar Reddy was arrested separately from his residence in Kokapet. Both arrests took place a day after a confrontation involving BRS leaders and police personnel near the Telangana Assembly.
The controversy emerged amid heightened political activity outside the Assembly. BRS leaders had organised a protest against the Congress government, with several party leaders and legislators participating in demonstrations. The protests led to confrontations with police and the detention of some senior BRS leaders.
The dispute involving Tata Madhu subsequently became a separate legal issue after allegations were made concerning remarks directed at the Assembly Speaker. Congress leaders strongly condemned the alleged comments and demanded action against those responsible.
The position taken by Tata Madhu differs from the allegations contained in the police complaint. The BRS MLC has denied insulting the Speaker. He has maintained that the comments in question were directed towards police personnel and were made in the context of the treatment of BRS legislators during the protest.
The incident has triggered further political criticism between the Congress and BRS. Congress leaders have argued that the dignity of the office of the Assembly Speaker must be protected and that elected representatives should maintain appropriate standards of conduct.
The BRS, meanwhile, has questioned the arrests and accused the state government of using police action against opposition legislators. The party has described the arrests as part of a broader confrontation between the ruling Congress and the opposition BRS.
The controversy comes at a time when tensions between the two parties have increased during the ongoing Assembly session. BRS leaders have raised several issues against the Congress government, while the ruling party has defended its administration and criticised the conduct of opposition legislators.
The Telangana Assembly has also witnessed disagreements over the participation of BRS legislators in recent proceedings. A separate legal development on Monday saw the Telangana High Court direct the state police not to prevent BRS MLAs from entering the Assembly, following allegations of police action against opposition legislators.
The latest arrests have therefore added another layer to the ongoing political dispute. The police case is now subject to investigation, and the allegations against Tata Madhu and N Naveen Kumar Reddy will have to be examined through the legal process.
Police are expected to collect evidence relating to the alleged remarks and establish the circumstances in which they were made. Video recordings and statements from people who were present at the location could form part of the investigation.
The case also involves provisions of the SC and ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. The application of these provisions is based on the allegations contained in the complaint and does not by itself establish guilt. The accused legislators will have the opportunity to contest the allegations through the appropriate legal process.
The arrests have attracted attention because the accused are sitting members of the Telangana Legislative Council. The incident has also raised questions about political conduct, legislative decorum and the relationship between opposition representatives and the government.
For the BRS, the immediate concern is the legal action against its legislators and the treatment of its representatives during the Assembly protests. For the Congress government, the focus has been on protecting the dignity of the Assembly Speaker and responding to what it considers unacceptable remarks.
The controversy is expected to remain a significant political issue in Telangana as the Assembly session continues. Further developments will depend on the police investigation, court proceedings and the responses of the two political parties.
At present, Tata Madhu and N Naveen Kumar Reddy face allegations in connection with the case registered at Saifabad Police Station. The allegations have not been established in court, and the investigation and judicial process will determine the next course of action.