In a recent turn of events, Tamil Nadu Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader Amar Prasad Reddy has found himself in a legal tangle, with his custody extended until November 3. The decision came following his appearance before Chennai’s Magistrate Court on October 21.

The entire episode stemmed from Reddy’s earlier arrest by the police, involving allegations of causing disturbance during the removal of a flagpole located outside the residence of BJP State President K Annamalai in Panaiyur, Chennai.

The BJP has swiftly condemned the arrest of its members by the police, who were engaged in protests against the flagpole’s removal at Panaiyur, situated along the East Coast Road in Chennai.

Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy, the BJP’s national co-in charge of Tamil Nadu, characterized the arrests as “purely politically motivated, uncalled for, and unwarranted.” The detained individuals include Amar Prasad Reddy, the state president of the party’s sports and skill development cell, along with several other party functionaries.

The flagpole in question, allegedly positioned on land belonging to the highways department, was dismantled in the early hours by civic authorities and the police, following a formal complaint.

The incident unfolded with a substantial number of BJP supporters gathering near Annamalai’s residence, attempting to prevent the flagpole’s removal. The party reported that Vivin Bhaskaran, the party’s IT wing state secretary, sustained severe injuries during the protests.

Police deemed it necessary to detain a significant number of party members and subsequently released them. Around six individuals were arrested for causing damage to public property during the protest.

Ponguleti Sudhakar Reddy voiced his strong condemnation of the flagpole’s removal and the arrests, asserting that “curbing democratic rights is an unconstitutional act.”

Meanwhile, K Annamalai has declared the party’s intent to erect 10,000 flagpoles throughout the state. He emphasized that the last one would be re-erected at Panaiyur, where it had been “forcibly removed by the police.