Ambati booked for pushing cops

Police in Kakinada district of Andhra Pradesh filed a case against former minister and YSR Congress Party leader Ambati Rambabu for allegedly preventing police personnel from discharging their duties.

The case has been registered at Kirlampudi Police Station in connection with the incident that occurred during the last rites of former minister and Kapu leader Mudragada Padmanabham in Kirlampudi village on Wednesday.

Rambabu and his supporters allegedly pushed policemen when they were presenting a guard of honour.

As the family of the late leader declined the State honours, YSRCP leaders raised objections to the presence of police personnel for giving the guard of honour. Rambabu had an argument with the police officers and allegedly pushed them.

On a complaint by Armed Reserve Sub-Inspector V. Appalaraju and a few constables, a case was registered against Rambabu and others.

The policemen alleged that the YSRCP leader and his supporters tried to deter them from discharging their duties and deliberately pushed them.

Padmanabham (73) died of illness at a private hospital in Hyderabad on Tuesday. He is survived by two sons and a daughter.

He was buried under a mango tree at his residence in Kirlampudi village, in keeping with his last wish that he not be cremated.

According to his family members, he was buried in his regular attire, with his belongings.

Former Chief Minister and YSRCP president Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy guided the rites and was one of the pallbearers.

Though Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan had decided that the last rites of Padmanabham be performed with state honours, the family declined to accept it.

YSRCP leaders said the family had declined the State honours citing the “harassment” they faced during N. Chandrababu Naidu’s government between 2014 and 2019.

When police personnel arrived at the late leader’s residence to present a guard of honour, the YSRCP leaders raised objections. Rambabu and others entered into an argument with a police officer and allegedly pushed them.

Several cases have been booked against Rambabu during the last two years. In most cases, he was charged with behaving rudely with police and preventing them from discharging their duties.