An audio clipping of a leaked phone call made by controversial Congress leader and Bhongir MP Komatireddy Venkat Reddy, threatening to eliminate another Congress leader Cheruku Sudhakar landed the former in deep soup.
In the audio clip, which is being widely circulated on social media, Venkat Reddy was heard threatening to kill Cheruku Sudhakar, who had recently joined the Congress party. The call was made by Venkat Reddy to Sudhakar's son.
Venkat Reddy is purportedly heard venting his anger over the way Sudhakar was making critical statements against him at party meetings.
“There are people travelling in a hundred vehicles, ready to take his life. You will also be killed and your hospital will be razed,” Venkat Reddy is purportedly heard saying.
“I gave life to a lakh people and cannot control them. When he (Sudhakar) was in jail, I was the only one who reached him, even as everyone ignored him. I shall not keep quiet if he gives statements (against me)...” the MP said.
Interestingly, Venkat Reddy admitted to have made the call to Sudhakar’s son.
“But my intention is not to cause any harm to Sudhakar. I spoke in a fit of rage and emotion. I was a little upset for the constant remarks made by Sudhakar against me and I only said my followers would not take them lightly and might harm him,” he explained.
But Sudhakar took the entire issue seriously. He, along with other Congress leaders, went to Gandhi Bhavan and lodged a complaint to the PCC disciplinary committee. He demanded that Venkat Reddy be sacked from the party immediately.