NEW DELHI: Congress leader Renuka Chowdhury has been booked for heckling a policeman and grabbing his collar in Hyderabad during a protest outside Raj Bhavan. A video of the incident has gone viral on social media platforms.
Chowdhury was protesting with other party workers in Hyderabad on Thursday over the grilling of Rahul Gandhi by Enforcement Directorate (ED) in connection with a money-laundering case pertaining to the National Herald-AJL deal.
A case has been registered against Chowdhury for her action under IPC sections 151, 140, 147, 149, 341, 353 (Assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), said a police official.
Telangana Congress chief Revanth Reddy has also been booked under the same sections, he added.
Chowdhury however denied assaulting the policeman and said she grabbed his collar only to steady herself after losing balance.
"They were pushing me, I've a problem with my leg. I was losing my balance so I fell on him like that. I'll apologise to that man. But I expect Police to apologise to me for manhandling us," she said.
"I didn't assault. I've been booked, I'll face it. That's law. I don't have anything against that young man," she added.
During the protest in Hyderabad, police detained many Congress leaders, including Chowdhury, Reddy, Congress Legislature Party leader Bhatti Vikaramarka, MLAs T Jagga Reddy and D Sridhar Babu.
After initially protesting near Khairtabad, the Congress leaders reached Raj Bhavan to protest against the Union government following which the police detained Revanth Reddy and others.
Renuka, while talking to journalists, said that it was total failure of law and order.
“Our leaders are being harassed for peacefully protesting and nothing happens to the wrongdoers who are sitting in the assembly here and in Delhi. Home minister Amit Shah should answer,” she said
The leader was surrounded by the police who were following her closely.
She also warned them not to touch her. She was seen pulling the shirt of a policeman in the video that has now gone viral.
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