Hyderabad, Nov.14 (NSS): The Jubilee Hills police in Hyderabad questioned the former MLA over the phone calls he had made to Thirupathanna. They also asked the former MLA about the tapping of the phone calls of Madan Reddy and Rajkumar, who are the followers of Nakirekal MLA Vemula Veeresam. The report that the phones of the two had been tapped was placed before Lingaiah by the police to pose questions.
Questions were also raised on the movement of money during the Munugodu assembly constituency by-elections. After the hearing, Chirumarti Lingaiah spoke to the media. “I have answered all the questions asked by the police. I had spoken to Additional SP Thirupathanna in the past as he was an officer known to me. Thirupathanna asked for the phone numbers of Madan Reddy and Rajkumar. I took the phone numbers of both of them from my followers and gave them to him. I asked Thirupathanna why the numbers of the two were needed. But Thirupathanna asked me as to how the campaign was being conducted during the Munugodu elections. I said on the phone that the campaign was going well and it is untrue that the phones of MLA Vemula Veeresham’s followers had been tapped. Some people are making false comments against me with the intention of exposing me in the media,” he said.
He also said he would cooperate with the police whenever he was called for questioning in the case. “I have nothing to do with this case. I was questioned on the basis of a call list I spoke to Thirupathanna. I think I was interrogated because the police had some evidence. My statement was video recorded. Whenever I am called for questioning, I will cooperate,” he said.
Two other BRS leaders Bollam Mallaiah and Paila Sekhar Reddy were also issued notices in connection with the phone tapping case. Mallaiah and Sekhar Reddy are likely to be interrogated after the interrogation of Chirumarti Lingaiah. For the first time, political leaders are being questioned by the police in connection with the phone tapping case. The issue has become a hot topic in State politics. The police are likely to issue notices to another former minister after the interrogation of former MLA Lingaiah.
