Former MLA Chengala Venkata Rao got life imprisonment

Anakapalli, May 25: The District Sessions Court has sentenced life imprisonment to the Former MLA Chengala Venkata Rao by the Judge B.B. Nageswara Rao at Anakapalle here on Wednesday.

A case of rioting and murder was booked against these persons in connection with a violent clash in which a fisherman died eight were grievously injured.

On October 18, 2007, groups of people from Bangarampalem village in Nakkapalli Mandal clashed with one supporting the establishment of a beach sand mining unit and another opposing it.

The former MLA is known for his unpredictable behavior. In 2015, he filed a case against Bahubali Director Rajamouli’s father Vijayendra Prasad at Yalamanchili Civil Court, alleging that a cheque issued by Mr. Vijayendra Prasad to him had bounced. But this was not proved in the court.

In 2005, he attempted suicide by jumping into the Hussain Sagar in Hyderabad after Narasimhudu, a film produced by him, had flopped.

Some vehicles and property were also destroyed in the clash and a senior citizen of Bangarampalem village, Gosala Konda, died in the clash and over a dozen persons were injured.

Among the 24 others who were handed the sentence, K. Appalaraju, K. Demudu and Baburao had died during the course of the 10-year trial. Three are women.

Apart from the life term, six of them, including Venkata Rao, will have to undergo one-year rigorous imprisonment.

Sources say that the former MLA is planning to challenge the verdict in the A.P. High Court. The former MLA was earlier with the TDP and later he moved to the YSR Congress.