Driver of Telangana Minister’s Former OSD Arrested in Assault Case

August 23, 2026

Hyderabad: The driver of Telangana Forest and Endowments Minister Konda Surekha’s former Officer on Special Duty (OSD), N. Sumanth, was arrested on Sunday in connection with an alleged assault on a real estate businessman.

The driver was arrested near Sumanth’s residence in Tellapur on the outskirts of Hyderabad.

Sumanth and five others were booked after a complaint by realtor Gongidi Harikrishna, who alleged that he was assaulted with iron rods and sticks and that the accused demanded Rs 10 crore from him.

Assault complaint leads to attempt to murder case

A zero FIR was initially registered against N. Sumanth and five others at Medipally Police Station under the Malkajgiri Police Commissionerate last week. The case was later transferred to Jubilee Hills Police Station under the Hyderabad Police Commissionerate.

The case was registered against Sumanth, Ramu, Prashanth, Arun Kumar Reddy, Karthik and Mahender Reddy under Section 109 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to the complainant, the alleged assault took place on July 30. Harikrishna said Sumanth asked him to meet at Ramu’s office, where he allegedly abused him and hit him with an iron rod. He further alleged that others joined the assault on Sumanth’s direction.

Harikrishna claimed that he suffered a fracture to his left hand along with bleeding and other injuries and underwent surgery on August 10.

Case comes amid controversy involving minister’s family

The case comes amid a political controversy involving Minister Konda Surekha’s family.

Her daughter, Konda Sushmitha, recently triggered a political storm within the ruling Congress after making remarks against Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

During her mother’s birthday celebrations in Warangal district, Sushmitha said she would contest from the Parkal Assembly constituency in the next elections even if she was denied a party ticket. She also levelled corruption allegations against the Chief Minister’s family.

The remarks prompted the disciplinary committee of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) to issue a show-cause notice to Konda Surekha.

Surekha distanced herself from her daughter’s comments, saying that Sushmitha had expressed her personal views.

Congress MP and TPCC disciplinary committee chairman Mallu Ravi said on Saturday that the committee had examined Surekha’s explanation and videos of her daughter’s remarks but had not taken a final decision.

Ravi said the panel had discussed several issues and examined complaints received from party leaders.