Ex-Speaker admits lifting computers, ACs from Andhra Assembly to prevent spoilage

Amaravati: Hyderabad Police encountered a bizarre complaint that furniture, computers and air conditioners had gone missing from Andhra Pradesh Assembly building while they were being shifted to Amaravati from Hyderabad.

The report, however, suggested that the articles had been diverted to the Sattenapalli residence of former Speaker Kodela Sivaprasad.

The assembly secretary said that a letter sent by him to the former Speaker had gone unanswered.

The media reports accused Sivaprasad of taking undue advantage of the relocation process to pinch articles from a hallowed institution of democracy, NDTV reported.

Ruling YSR Congress party workers alleged that such an action amounted to theft. Later, the former Assembly Speaker admitted to shifting some articles to his office in Sattenapalli for reasons different from those being cited.

"The furniture and computers would have got spoilt in the temporary premises, and I only shifted them to ensure their protection. I am ready to hand over the furniture or whatever cash they require,'' Sivaprasad said.

The former assembly speaker also claimed that he had asked officials to take back the items after he lost in the recent state elections, but nobody responded to him.

The YSRCP has questioned the intention of senior politician. "If a common man does things like this, what would you call it? Would you not call it theft?" questioned state Agriculture Minister Kanna Babu.

Narsaraopet MLA Srinivas Reddy accused Sivaprasad of misusing his office. "Should the furniture and items come to the assembly building here or his home?'' he asked.