Telangana Minister for Forest and Environment Jogu Ramanna was locked in a delicate situation after his son Premender and nine other TRS activists were booked in a murder case, following opposition’s agitation. However, minister’s supporters state that this case was plotted by opposition leaders with a political motive.

They were booked for the murder of Katepalli Thirupathi Reddy, who died in suspicious circumstances on Saturday. Initially the police ignored the incident, later they were forced to register a case on the complaint of the family members, especially after Congress leaders and activists staged a dharna at Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences, carrying the body of Thirupathi Reddy.

They alleged that Reddy ended his life due to harassment by Premender. They also found fault with police for registering a case against Thirupathi Reddy under the SC, ST atrocities Act. Reddy who was arrested in this case, returned home only a week ago, after spending 30 days in jail.

After returning from the jail, his wife and other family members went to Premender and questioned whether sending him to jail is the reward given to them for supporting the minister in the elections. This led to a clash among them.

Former district Congress Committee President C Ramachandra Reddy said Thirupathi Reddy was murdered. He alleged that the police booked a case against Thirupathi Reddy following instructions from the Minister. They withdrew the protest after SP M Sreenivas assured action.

Thirupathi Reddy, hails from Lakshmipur village of Jainadh mandal in Adilabad district, was originally a TRS activist and actively involved in Telangana agitation. Along with his brother Mahipal Reddy he worked for the success of the minister in the last elections. However, as the minister started encouraging his opposition activists in the village, he joined Congress.