In a major legal blow to the YSRCP, senior leader Ambati Rambabu was sent to 14 days of judicial custody on Monday. The former minister was moved to Rajahmundry Central Jail in the early hours of the morning under heavy police escort, following a weekend of high-intensity political drama in Guntur.
The arrest on Saturday was anything but quiet. Footage from local news channels showed chaotic scenes at Rambabu’s residence, where Telugu Desam Party supporters reportedly ransacked his house and damaged vehicles during hours of late-night tension. While the initial spark for the arrest was Rambabu's alleged derogatory comments about Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, the police have detailed several other charges.
According to officials, the trouble actually began at the Chillies Centre in Gorantla. The police have reportedly said that Rambabu obstructed traffic police and had a heated argument with them regarding the removal of a TDP banner erected near an NTR statue. Later, a TDP leader filed a complaint against Rambabu for using abusive language and threatening the Chief Minister in a press conference.
Legal proceedings moved quickly. Rambabu has been booked under multiple sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 132 for obstructing public servants and Section 292 for his alleged verbal outbursts. After being produced before a magistrate, he was remanded to custody and arrived at the Rajahmundry jail around 12:30 am Monday.
The YSRCP has wasted no time in condemning the move, claiming Rambabu is a victim of political vendetta and that his life is in danger. The party leaders have described the whole incident as a “calculated attack” on the part of the ruling coalition. On the other hand, the leaders of the TDP, as well as the government, have supported the police and argued that the arrest was necessary in order to maintain law and order and deal with the “abusive” political culture in the state.
Also read: YSRCP's Ambati Rambabu arrested for remarks against Naidu
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