Hyderabad: The Saroornagar police on Tuesday registered a case against BJP general secretary P. Muralidhar Rao and seven others, following directions from a court based on a petition from a woman alleging that they had collected Rs 2.1 crore to provide her husband a nominated post as chairperson of Pharma Exil, a body that functions under the commerce ministry.
According to Saroornagar police, one Talla Pravarna Reddy approached the court through a petition stating that she and her husband were duped by Mr Muralidhar Rao and his associates in 2016.
Ms Pravarna Reddy stated that she and her husband had developed an acquaintance with one Eswar Reddy, said to be associated with prominent persons in the BJP. In 2015, Eswar Reddy proposed to appoint her husband Mahipal Reddy to the post with the help of one A. Krishna Kishore, a close associate Mr Muralidhar Rao.
She said that though they refused the proposal, Eswar Reddy along with other persons M. Ramachandra Reddy, Hanumantha Rao, S. Chandrasekhar Reddy, Baba and Srikanth — convinced them to pay Rs 2.17 crore for the post. They allegedly showed a copy of an appointment letter.
After they collected the money, they showed the photocopy of an appointment letter of Mahipal Reddy as chairperson of Pharma Exil, which was purportedly signed by the commerce minister Nirmala Sitharaman. As there was a delay in the appointment, the couple pressurised the accused to return the money, but Muralidhar Rao threatened them, the police said quoting the complainant.
Later, Eswar Reddy promised to give the money but failed to do so. A case was also registered against the accused at Delhi in connection the same issue.
Saroornagar inspector E. Srinivas Reddy said, “Following the court orders, a case has been registered against the accused persons including Muralidhar Rao on the complaint of Ms Pravarna Reddy that the accused have taken Rs 2.17 crore promising a nominated post.”
A case has been registered under Sections 406, 420, 468, 471 and 506 r/w 120-B IPC, and the investigation has been taken up, said the inspector.
