TRS MLA Given Imprisonment in Extortion Case

Hyderabad: TRS MLA from Patancheru on the city outskirts, Gudem Mahipal Reddy, has been sentenced to two-and-a-half years' imprisonment for extorting money from an industrialist.Sangareddy additional judicial first class magistrate D. Durgaprasad on Thursday awarded the jail term and also Rs2,500 fine to the MLA on being proved of charges of extortion in an industrial worker's death.

However, the execution of judgment was postponed for a month as the culprit requested time to appeal at the district court.

On 5 May 2014, Mahesh, a worker at Versatile Industries died of some unknown reason. The industry falls under Patancheru constituency where Mahipal Reddy was contesting as an MLA from TRS. Reddy along with his followers stormed the industry and demanded huge compensation to the worker's family. He also demanded Rs15.00 lakh for himself and forcibly took a cheque for the amount. The industry management lodged a complaint at BDL Bhanur police station stating that Reddy threatened them and took a cheque from them.

After investigation, the police have proved Mahipal Reddy's crime and the judge awarded the sentence. The judge will examine the suspension of judgment on 6 January 2016 after the MLA goes to appellate court.