Cops punished for permitting YCP MLA Shilpa Ravichandra Reddy and Icon Star Allu Arjun rally in Nandyal

Ahead of the elections in Andhra Pradesh, Icon Star Allu Arjun visited his friend, YCP MLA Shilpa Ravichandra Reddy, at his residence to support his candidacy. This visit drew a large crowd eager to catch a glimpse of the star, resulting in significant commotion.

During the visit, both YCP MLA Shilpa Ravichandra Reddy and Allu Arjun addressed a rally. Following this event, Andhra Pradesh police booked Allu Arjun and YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MLA Shilpa Ravichandra Reddy for violating the moral code of conduct on May 11. The police alleged that the gathering occurred without prior permission while Section 144 CRPC was in force, ahead of the state elections scheduled for May 13.

In response to the incident, the authorities took swift and severe action against two constables for their dereliction of duty. Constables Nayak and Nagaraju were reassigned by the Superintendent of Police, an action that came as a shock to the two officers. This reassignment underscores the seriousness with which the violation is being addressed and reflects the commitment of law enforcement to uphold the integrity of election protocols.

The FIR was lodged based on a complaint by an official on election duty in the Flying Surveillance Team (FST) at Nandyal II Town police station. According to the FIR, Allu Arjun’s visit to MLA Shilpa Ravichandra Reddy’s residence resulted in a large crowd gathering, violating Section 144 of CRPC and Section 30 of the Police Act, which forbids gatherings as part of the election code. The complaint stated, “Allu Arjun is a popular actor, and it is understood that his visit would draw crowds. However, no one sought prior permission, and this is disobedience to the poll code.”

The case was filed under Section 188 (disobedience to order duly promulgated by a public servant) of the Indian Penal Code against the actor and the YSRCP candidate.This incident underscores the importance of adhering to election code regulations, even for high-profile individuals, and highlights the potential consequences for violating such rules. It remains to be seen how the case will proceed.