Telangana BJP Chief Bandi Sanjay on Wednesday filed a bail plea in the Telangana High Court after he was arrested in the SSC paper leak ahead of PM Narendra Modi's visit to the state. Two FIRs have been registered against Sanjay in Karimnagar and Warangal districts over protests by BJP workers on the SSC examination question paper leak.
Bandi Sanjay Files Bail Plea
Telangana BJP Chief Bandi Sanjay on Wendesday filed a bail plea at Telangana High Court following his arrest in the SSC paper leak case. According to ANI, two FIRs have been registered against Bandi Sanjay for protest by party workers on the leak of SSC exam papers on 'WhatsApp' and provoking students to protest which may disturb law and order in the state.
He was arrested in the second FIR registered at Kamalapur, Warangal (60/2023) in the case of an alleged SSC paper leak.
Bandi Sanjay's Midnight Detention
Sanjay on Wednesday claimed that he was 'arrested' from his residence in Karimnagar on Tuesday night. BJP State General Secretary Premender Reddy has alleged that the 'arrested' was a plot to disturb PM Modi’s programme in Telangana.
Police, however, said that Bandi Sanjay was taken into preventive detention at 12:15 AM last night in the Karimnagar FIR (147/2023) under Sec 151 of CrPC.
BJP Protests Over Bandi Sanjay's Arrest
Reacting to Bandi Sanjay's late-night detention, BJP State General Secretary Premender Reddy alleged that the 'arrest' was a plot to disturb PM Modi’s programme in Telangana. Reddy said that the BJP will hold a state-wide protest against Bandi Sanjay's detention.
He asked authorities the reason and the case under which Bandhi Sanjat was detained.
"What was the need to detain him (Bandi Sanjay) at this hour? What is the case and why has he been detained, no one has informed us. The reason is that he is asking questions to the state government and the KCR govt is trying to disturb PM Modi's visit to the state. We will hold a state-wide protest tomorrow against this," he said.
BJP State General Secretary Bangaru Shruthi moved a Habeas Corpus petition in High Court over the detention of state BJP president and MP Bandi Sanjay said Rachna Reddy, High Court advocate, and BJP spokesperson, reported ANI.
Bandi Sanjay was detained a day after Sanjay demanded Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao reveal his post-graduate degree certificates.
Sharing visuals from the scuffle that ensued over police’s attempts to take him into custody, he wrote, “Fear is real in BRS.! First they stop me from conducting press meet & now arrest me late in night. My only mistake is to Question BRS govt on its wrong doings. Do not stop questioning BRS even if I am jailed. Jai Sri Ram ! Bharat Mata ki Jai ! Jai Telangana !”
Sanjay had earlier held the KCR government responsible for the leakage of question papers of the Telangana State Public Service Commission (TSPSC) and of class 10. He also called for the resignation of KCR and K T Rama Rao from the Cabinet.
Telangana BJP workers staged protests across the street burning effigies against the arrest of Bandi Sanja calling it illegal and an attempt to divert public attention from KCR leakage and package issue.
According to PTI, senior BJP leader K Laxman linked the arrest to the party's agitation over the issue of the leak of question papers of competitive exams.
Laxman cited reports and said that besides the leak issue, the matter of the "package" has also hit the state government hard. He alleged that it is the reported offer by Chief Minister K Chandrashekar Rao that he has the package to finance a joint opposition campaign against the BJP if he is elected as their chairperson.
"The government is becoming most unpopular. It is mired in scams and has resorted to Sanjay Kumar's undemocratic arrest illegally to divert people's attention," the Rajya Sabha member said, as quoted by PTI.
Laxman threatened of a state-wide campaign from Thursday if Sanjay is not immediately released.