Police At Konda Surekha's Residence Sparks Turmoil

The arrival of police at the residence of Endowments Minister Konda Surekha late last night caused a considerable stir in Telangana's political circles.

The incident followed the State government's decision to terminate the services of Officer on Special Duty (OSD) N Sumanth, who had been assigned to assist the minister. In addition to overseeing the Endowments Department, Surekha also supervises the Departments of Forests, Science and Technology. Sumanth was appointed as OSD at the Pollution Control Board under the Forest Department, and was assisting the minister in that capacity. He is also widely believed to be her personal aide and enforcer, even living in the minister's quarters.

The police arriving at the residence of the minister to arrest Sumanth, but the minister's family physically blocked the police claiming that the latter had no warrant for the arrest.

Defending Sumanth, the minister's daughter Sushmitha claimed that the issue involving Deccan Cements (Sumanth was accused of threatening its officials in Huzurnagar seeking crores, reportedly claiming he could cause trouble for the company through departmental or political means if they didn't comply) arose after a meeting between Sumanth and Rohin Reddy, a close associate of the Chief Minister, at the Chief Minister's Office.

"Their conversation also included matters related to the management of Deccan Cements, which cannot be considered a threat. If this situation is being viewed as extortion, then it implicates Rohin Reddy and the Chief Minister as well," Sushmitha said in a video that has since gone viral.

Sushmitha also levelled allegations against Government Advisor Vem Narender Reddy, Revenue Minister Ponguleti Srinivas Reddy and Station Ghanpur MLA Kadiyam Srihari, among others, accusing them of intentionally targeting her mother and family. She also alleged that Narender Reddy, who had previously contested and lost from the Warangal East constituency, was attempting to assert control over the area.

She demanded that the telecommunication data of Deccan Cements, Rohin Reddy and Sumanth be thoroughly examined and made public. She also urged supporters to condemn the actions of the government and the police, and to stand in solidarity with her family.

Sushmitha also alleged that Revanth Reddy had reprimanded her mother during a meeting with AICC President Mallikarjun Kharge in New Delhi, which had left her mother visibly distressed.

On Thursday, it was reported that Surekha and her daughter met Deputy CM Bhatti Vikramarka at Praja Bhavan, where the minister briefed him on the previous night's developments.

Amid these allegations, AICC in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan reportedly held a phone conversation with Surekha to address certain concerns. However, the details of their discussion have not been disclosed.