Andhra Pradesh: Former YSRCP MLA Who Vandalised EVM During Elections Arrested

Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy, who represented the Macherla constituency in Palnadu district, was taken into custody in Narasaraopet town.

Former YSR Congress Party MLA Pinnelli Ramakrishna Reddy was arrested on Wednesday following the dismissal of his anticipatory bail petition by the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The arrest stems from his alleged vandalism of electronic voting machines (EVMs) during simultaneous Lok Sabha and Assembly elections last month.

Ramakrishna Reddy, who represented the Macherla constituency in Palnadu district, was taken into custody in Narasaraopet town and subsequently moved to the office of the Palnadu district Superintendent of Police, according to a report on IANS.

The arrest came swiftly after the High Court's decision regarding his bail petition. The incident in question occurred on May 15, during polling, where Ramakrishna Reddy purportedly damaged an EVM and a VVPAT at a polling booth in Macherla constituency. The Election Commission of India intervened following the surfacing of a video of the incident on May 21, directing the police to file a case and arrest the former MLA.

Ramakrishna Reddy faces multiple charges under various sections of the Indian Penal Code (IPC), including 143 (unlawful assembly), 147 (rioting), 448 (house trespass), 427 (mischief causing damage), 355 (assault), 452 (house-trespass after preparation for hurt, assault, or wrongful restraint), and 120 (B) (criminal conspiracy). Additionally, he has been booked under sections 131 and 135 of the Representation of the People Act, 1951, and Section 3 of the Prevention of Damage to Public Property (PDPP) Act, 1984, as per the report.

Earlier, Ramakrishna Reddy had been granted anticipatory bail by the High Court on May 23 in connection with three other cases related to post-poll violence in Macherla. The court had instructed authorities not to take any action against him until June 5 and permitted him to visit the counting center on June 4.

Meanwhile, in the simultaneous elections conducted in Andhra Pradesh, TDP-JanaSena-BJP combine secured a thumping victory pushing YSRCP to the second spot.