TRS MLA kin pays Rs 57 lakh to tribal astrologers for ministerial berth

Hyderabad: The family of TRS Parakala MLA Challa Dharmareddy paid two ‘Koya doralu’ (tribal astrologers) Rs 57 lakh, believing that they could influence the stars to smoothen his way to a ministerial berth.

When nothing seemed to move, the family lodged a complaint with the police which came to light on Monday. The MLA denied paying the duo; he said he had ignored them but they managed to trap his family members to pay them without his knowledge.

According to sources, the duo of Lakshmana Raju and Vamshi Raju approached the MLA over a year ago, and told him that they possessed divine powers and could rid him of any problems by performing pujas.

The MLA’s family reportedly paid them money, and believed that some problems facing them were solved. This made them believe the duo, who got free access to the MLA’s residence.

Kin paid duo separately star help
The duo recently told the MLA that he had an opportunity to become minister but there were some obstacles in his path.

The MLA and his family agreed to pay for special pujas for Mr Dharmareddy to become minister. Police said different family members paid the duo money separately, without each other’s knowledge.

The duo would call the MLA’s family from landline phones from different places, and tell them that they had performed pujas and organised ‘anna danam’ to devotees at temples.

When nothing seemed to change for the MLA, the family discussed the issue and realised that they had paid the duo a total of Rs 57 lakh. A relative of the MLA lodged a complaint at Subedari police station and a case has been registered. Police has reportedly taken the suspects into custody and is interrogating them.