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New Delhi: Congress MP Ponnam Prabhakar Goud has complained to the Delhi Police over use of a pepper spray can and alleged brandishing of a knife by Seemandhra MPs in the Lok Sabha to protest against the tabling of the Andhra Pradesh Reorganisation Bill last Thursday.
The 46-year-old and two others–Porika Balram Naik and Binoy Kumar Pandey–were rushed to Dr Ram Manohar Lohia Hospital after they complained of uneasiness after inhaling pepper spray fumes. According to the police, a complaint has been received at Parliament Street police station, but no FIR has been registered so far.
“We are taking legal opinion over the complaint and would take time to conclude the initial probe. An FIR would only be filed after consulting senior police officers and lawyers,” a senior police officer told Deccan Herald. Sources added that the complaint is for initiating criminal action against Seemandhra MPs Lagadapati Rajagopal and M Venugopala Reddy.
If the police decide to file an FIR, the case could be under section 328 (causing hurt by means of poison) of the Indian Penal Code. Prabhakar had said there was unbearable burning sensation in his eyes due to the pepper spray and he felt he had lost sight.
Prabhakar had earlier filed a complaint with Lok Sabha Speaker Meira Kumar against the two MPs. It is alleged that Reddy damaged a mike on the table of Lok Sabha Secretary General and later snatched papers from the Speaker's podium, while Rajagopal broke the glass on the table and used the pepper spray. MPs claim that Reddy was carrying a knife, but he has denied it. Rajagopal claims he had used the spray in self-defence.
Prabhakar represents the Karimnagar constituency of Andhra Pradesh, and is the youngest Member of Parliament from both Karimnagar constituency and Andhra Pradesh Lok Sabha constituencies.