Former YSRCP MP Sudhakar arrested and charged with raping minor

Former YSR Congress Party (YSRCP) MP from Kodumuru constituency Jaradoddi Sudhakar Reddy was arrested by Kurnool police on Thursday, July 4, for allegedly raping a minor, who was also employed by him since 2019. The survivor, now 19 years old, along with her parents went to the officials of 2 Town Police Station in Kurnool and complained.

According to police officials TNM spoke to, the survivor was allegedly repeatedly raped between 2019 and November 2023 when she went there for work with her parents. After filing the complaint on July 4, 48-year-old Sudhakar Reddy was arrested and remanded in judicial custody till midnight.

A video of Sudhakar Reddy allegedly harassing the survivor has been circulating on social media and has also been shown by several local Telugu media channels. Sources in the Kurnool police also said that they did not know when the video was shot and that they were probing the case as part of their investigation.

“So far, action has been taken against the accused. After counselling the survivor and her parents, the survivor was sent for a physical examination,” said investigating officer Imitiaz Basha.

A case was registered under sections 506 (punishment for criminal intimidation), 376 (3) (repeated rape of the same woman) and 376 (2) (aggravated form of rape by police officer or other public servant) of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) read with section 5(1) (sexual assault on a child involving penetration and forcing the child to undress or exhibit naked in public) of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act.