Botsa calls on Shankar Rao; daughter lodges police complaint

The Congress party appears to be in a reconcialiation mode. Following widespread condemnation over the way former minister Dr P Shankar Rao was taken into custody for questioning into Green Fields issue, PCC president Botsa Satyanarayana paid a visit to Care Hospital to meet Shankar Rao.

Almost a week after Shankar Rao was admitted in a hospital, Botsa called on him and enquired about his health. He has reportedly discussed latest political situation in the State. It may be mentioned that Shankar Rao's family has accused Chief Minister N Kiran Kumar Reddy of trying to humiliate the former minister.

Shankar Rao's brother-in law and Peddapalli MP G Vivek lodged a complaint to the Congress High Command and also met Deputy Chief Minister Damodar Raja Narasimhan over the issue. Several Dalit organisations too have condemned the incident. Botsa's visit is being considered as a move to de-associate the Congress party with the incident.

Meanwhile, Shankar Rao's daughter Susmita lodged a complaint with the Musheerabad Police against the Neredmet police for the way in which her father was whisked away from his residence on January 31. In her petition, she alleged that her father was ill-treated by the police while he was taken into custody.

It may be mentioned that the Chief Minister has already ordered an enquiry into the incident. A Crime Investigation Department team lead by Additional DG T Krishna Prasad has also begun its probe into the matter and is likely to submit a report by this weekend.