YSRCP leader Ambati Rambabu alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government was targeting former MLA Mohammed Mustafa through politically motivated cases and accused the police of procedural violations during the investigation.
Guntur: YSRCP Guntur District President and former Minister Ambati Rambabu on Monday alleged that the Andhra Pradesh government was pursuing a campaign of political vendetta against former Guntur East MLA Mohammed Mustafa by registering what he described as fabricated criminal cases.
Addressing the media in Guntur, Ambati claimed that the coalition government was misusing the police machinery to target YSRCP leaders after failing to confront the party politically.
Ambati alleged that a routine business dispute involving an advance payment of Rs. 36 lakh for a tobacco transaction had been deliberately converted into serious criminal cases, including charges of kidnapping, attempt to murder and offences under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act.
According to him, the cases were filed with the intention of preventing Mohammed Mustafa and his son Basheer from securing bail.
The former minister also alleged that police violated legal procedures during searches conducted in apartment complexes where Muslim families reside.
He claimed that officers entered several apartment complexes in plain clothes during late-night hours, questioned residents and removed CCTV footage. Ambati further alleged that attempts were made to implicate Mustafa's family by fabricating criminal evidence.
He also criticised the police for issuing public notices announcing rewards for information leading to Mustafa's arrest, describing the move as inappropriate for a former two-time MLA.
Seeking anticipatory bail or filing petitions to quash criminal proceedings are legal rights, Ambati said, adding that portraying a former legislator as a fugitive amounted to an abuse of authority.
Ambati further alleged that the action against Mustafa was being carried out under the direction of Union Minister Pemmasani Chandrasekhar.
Referring to his own experience, he claimed that the attack on his residence, damage to his vehicles, his arrest and alleged custodial harassment were part of a similar pattern of political targeting. He alleged that those responsible for those incidents had not been brought to justice.
Concluding his remarks, Ambati Rambabu warned that any police officer found to have exceeded legal authority would be held accountable through the courts.
He said the YSRCP would continue to extend support to Mohammed Mustafa and his family while pursuing legal remedies against what he described as politically motivated actions.
