YSRTP leader Sharmila arrested, gets conditional bail after day-long drama 

Police prevented her from driving her SUV, which was vandalised by TRS cadre, to CM Camp Office

The Hyderabad City Police on Tuesday arrested YSR Telangana Party chief Y.S. Sharmila Reddy on various charges, including theft, criminal intimidation and public nuisance, and later in the evening produced her before a magistrate.

After a late-evening hearing, the XIV Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate at Nampally granted her a conditional bail on personal bond.

Ms. Sharmila was at the centre of a high drama during the day after she gave a call for laying a siege to the Pragati Bhavan, Chief Minister’s camp office at Punjagutta, in protest against the violent developments during her padayatra in Warangal on Monday.

Her SUV was vandalised and the caravan she has been using for the padayatras was set on fire by TRS activists in Warangal (Rural) district, reportedly over her remarks against local legislator Peddi Sudarshan Reddy.

While several of the YSRTP supporters assembled for the gherao were detained by the police force outside the Pragati Bhavan here, Ms. Sharmila who was on the way driving the same vandalised SUV and tailed by the damaged caravan, was obstructed by the police on the Somajiguda road.

According to the Punjagutta police’s FIR, Ms. Sharmila drove her vehicle in a rash and negligent manner, snatched the cellphone of a woman police officer who was recording the scene, abused her in unparliamentary language and obstructed her from performing her duty.

There was also a huge traffic jam causing inconvenience to road users, and they created public nuisance, the FIR read.