Former MLC and the Telugu Desam Party’s (TDP) Pulivendula constituency in-charge, Mareddy Ravindranath Reddy, popularly known as B. Tech Ravi, was reportedly arrested by the police on Tuesday evening. The police have remained tight-lipped on the arrest, but Mr. Ravi is believed to have been picked up in relation to a case filed in Vallur police station over his alleged high-handed behaviour with the police during the visit of TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh earlier this year.

Mr. Ravi, who is contesting against Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy in Pulivendula in the ensuing Assembly elections, has been actively touring the constituency since his candidacy was announced by the party.

Initially, there were concerns that Mr. Ravi had been kidnapped by unidentified individuals, causing tension among his family members and party leaders.

The timing of the arrest is politically significant, as it comes just three days after Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy’s visit to the district. The arrest has been criticized by TDP district president R. Srinivasa Reddy, who labeled it as a malicious act and threatened to hold the government accountable for any violation of rules.

Before the arrest, Mr. Ravi was taken to the Rajiv Gandhi Institute of Medical Sciences (RIMS) in Kadapa for a medical examination. Meanwhile, attempts to contact the Kadapa district Superintendent of Police Siddharth Kaushal have been unsuccessful.

TDP general secretary Nara Lokesh alleged that Chief Minister Jagan Mohan Reddy was using police power to intimidate Mr. Ravi because he feared contesting against him in Pulivendula.