Warangal: MLA Banoth Shankar Naik on Thursday got arrested after Dr Preethi Meena, Mahbubabad collector, registered a complaint against him for misbehaving with her by touching her hand, during the Haritha Haram programme on Wednesday.
Naik had apologised to Meena on Wednesday evening when Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Rao ordered him doing so. However, the collector filed the complaint on Wednesday night, refusing to conciliate. Naik surrendered on Wednesday morning in the town police station and got released on station bail, reports DC.
A case was registered on receiving a complaint by the collector under vide Cr. No 230/2017 under section 353 (Assault to deter public servant from discharge of duty), 354 (Assault or criminal force to woman with intent to outrage her modesty), 509 (Word, gesture or Act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC, Mahbubabad superintendent of police N. Koti Reddy said.
“Thorrur DSP G. Rajaratnam has been appointed as the investigating officer in view of the sensitivity of the issue. Mr Shankar Naik has been arrested and issued notices under section 41(a) criminal procedure code. Charge sheet will be filed in this case as per the merits and findings of the investigation in due course,” he said.
Meanwhile, Opposition parties in the district criticised Naik for his indecent behaviour against the Collector and demanded that he be punished under the stringent Criminal Law (Amendment) Act, 2013. Several women’s organisations held rallies and shouted slogans against Naik demanding his immediate suspension.