Hyderabad rape case: MLC's son accused of attempt to rape, on the run

The Hyderabad police on Monday arrested Pritham Reddy, the prime accused in an alleged sexual harassment case filed by a 24-year-old woman against three persons, including the son of an MLC. The other two accused -- Snehith Reddy, son of ruling TRS MLC R Bhupathi Reddy, and Aarav Reddy -- are absconding. While Pritham has been booked for rape, the other two have been booked for attempt to rape. "We are looking for the two other accused in the case, including the MLC's son, but they are absconding. We have already arrested one of them and sent him to judicial remand," a police officer from the Petbasheerabad police station told The News Minute. Bhupathi Reddy has however denied the allegations against his son. "It's a false case,'' the MLC told The Times of India in a text message. The woman in her complaint has alleged that she was sexually exploited by her friend, along with two others, on Saturday night. The alleged incident took place when she had gone to her friend Preetham Reddy's house at Palm Meadows in Petbasheerabad. Preetham allegedly sexually assaulted her and also called two of his friends, Aarav Reddy and Snehith Reddy, who is the son of TRS MLC Bhupathi Reddy to join him, The New Indian Express reported."The victim met Preetham one-and-a-half months ago at a party where they exchanged numbers, later they started talking to each other. Soon they both started liking each other and Preetham promised to marry her. On Saturday night, he called her home and raped her, and also called two of his friends to sexually assault the victim," police inspector V Ranga Reddy had told TNM.