Lagadapati Tries To Block Cops From Friend's House

Industrialist and former Lok Sabha MP from Vijayawada Lagadapati Rajagopal tried to stop the police from searching the residence of his friend and businessman G P Reddy late Thursday, an official said.

After receiving information that the police had reached Reddy's house in Banjara Hills in Hyderabad, Rajagopal rushed there and questioned the officers acting without a search warrant. He entered a heated argument with the officers present and stopped them from entering the house.

Lagadapati alleged that the police were harassing his friend by conducting midnight searches though the latter was extending cooperation into a probe involving him (Reddy) in a civil case.

The case was registered against Reddy for allegedly faking documents relating to a plot of land in Banjara Hills. Lagadapati alleged that Inspector General of Police Nagi Reddy, who was a friend of some of the people who had filed the case against Reddy, was behind the search.

West Zone Deputy Commissioner of Police A R Srinivas clarified that the police had gone to G P Reddy's house as part of the ongoing probe into the case, and added that the police had the right to question an accused at any time. The police officials had gone there as part of their duty, Srinivas added.