Incredibly - given all the evidence and his son admitting to the offence - Andhra Pradesh Social and Tribal Welfare Minister Ravela Kishore Babu today alleged that his son was being dragged into a false criminal case as his political opponents were unable to face him politically.
Speaking to mediapersons, the AP minister accused YSR Congress Party president Y S Jaganmohan Reddy of trying to trap his son in the case, and of stooping to the level of playing with the life of a dalit student.
"My son did nothing wrong, and I have belief in and respect for the law and the judiciary," he claimed.
Babu alleged that Jagan was targeting him (Babu) because he was striving to fulfil the aspirations of AP Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu, who was taking the State on developmental path.
The AP minister also accused Jagan of creating hurdles in the development of the State, and said that his Party MLAs were joining the TDP since they were fed up with his dictatorial style.
"Jagan has no moral right to criticize us when he himself is facing 12 criminal cases," Kishore Babu said.
He also alleged that Jagan was trying to create hatred among different castes.
It may be mentioned here that the Banjara Hills police have filed a case under the Nirbhaya Act against Ravela Susheel, the son of the AP minister, on charges of trying to molest a 20-year-old teacher Fathima Begum when she was returning home from her school. Susheel and his driver Ramesh are in the Chanchalguda jail after being remanded to 14 days' judicial custody.