TD MLA’s Indian citizenship found fake

Karimnagar, Dec. 14: The district superintendent of police, Mr Shivashankar Reddy, reportedly submitted a report to the Union home ministry stating that the Telugu Desam (TD) legislator from Vemulawada, Mr Chennamaneni Ramesh Babu, had obtained an Indian citizenship through fraudulent means.

The Union home ministry had issued a showcase notice to Mr Ramesh Babu on July 31, 2009, following a complaint lodged by a Congress leader, Mr Adi Srinivas, challenging Mr Ramesh Babu’s citizenship. Incidentally, Mr Ramesh Babu had defeated Mr Srinivas in the recent elections.

In his petition to the home ministry, Mr Srinivas alleged that Mr Ramesh had submitted false documents pertaining to his stay in the country and had obtained Indian citizenship fraudulently.

Based on this petition, the home ministry directed the collector to conduct a detailed inquiry and submit a report.

The SP conducted an investigation and submitted a report to the district collector, Mr Sandeep Kumar Sultania. Sources said that it has been found that the legislator violated rules in obtaining Indian citizenship.

Mr Ramesh is a citizen of Germany and he had applied for Indian citizenship through 1955 (5)(1)(F). Under this rule, applicant should have stayed at least 12 months in the country before applying for citizenship.

Incidentally, Mr Ramesh Babu resigned from his party on Sunday. He also gave up his Assembly membership to protest the Telugu Desam president, Mr N. Chandrababu Naidu’s “doublespeak” on Telangana statehood.

Mr Ramesh Babu informed the media that he was faxing his resignation to the Speaker.

He said his decision was in protest against the

“I am quitting the Assembly as well as the Telugu Desam anguished by Mr Chandrababu Naidu’s failure to respond positively to the Centre’s announcement,” he told the mediapersons.