'I had no other option': Why a Congress worker filed criminal case naming Meenakshi Natarajan

The rejection of former MP and Congress’s Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination has made her one of the most talked-about political figures in the country right now. Over the past two days, her name has dominated both mainstream and social media discussions.

Known for her simple lifestyle and low-profile public image, Natarajan has suddenly found herself at the centre of a national debate. But what triggered this surge in attention?

What is the criminal case that Meenakshi Natarajan failed to mention in her affidavit that got her nomination cancelled?

Sexual harassment complaint

The answer lies in a case registered in Telangana in 2022, when a young Congress worker from a Backward Class accused Kumbha Shivakumar Reddy, then the Congress district president of Narayanpet, of sexually harassing, threatening and humiliating her on caste grounds.

Before filing a formal complaint, the former municipal corporator said she approached several people seeking justice but received no help. When her complaint at the police station allegedly failed to yield results, she moved the Nampally court.

Also read: SC to hear Natarajan’s plea against rejection of RS candidature on Friday

In her petition, she named several individuals as respondents, including Kumbha Shivakumar Reddy, Narayanpet MLA Chittem Parnika Reddy, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud, minister Vakiti Srihari, Narayanpet DCC president K Prashanth Reddy, Congress leader Chittem Abhijay Reddy, and the party’s Telangana in-charge Meenakshi Natarajan.

Court intervention

Although the original police complaint was lodged in 2022, the Congress worker approached the court only in 2025.

The first complaint was registered at Hyderabad’s Panjagutta Police Station on May 7, 2022, and the second one at Cubbon Park Police Station in Bengaluru on June 28, 2023.

The charges in the first FIR reportedly covered rape and criminal intimidation, while the second one added an extra charge—acts committed by several persons in furtherance of a common intention. However, Natarajan was not named in any of the FIRs.

Also read: Meenakshi's RS nomination rejected: Congress protests 'murder of democracy', seeks legal remedy

Anyhow, according to the woman, the police took no action. As a result, she filed a case in court in 2025 and included the names of the leaders mentioned above, accusing them of failing to act on her grievances despite being informed. The woman specifically accused Natarajan of lying to her that Shiva Kumar Reddy had been suspended from the party but did not share the suspension order with her despite repeated requests.

While Shiva Kumar Reddy was subsequently removed as the DCC president of Narayanpet, the court issued notices to all respondents and sought their replies. The matter is currently pending before the court.

Nomination setback

The controversy resurfaced amid the ongoing Rajya Sabha elections. Three Rajya Sabha seats are to be filled from Madhya Pradesh. Based on the existing strength in the Assembly, two seats were expected to go to the BJP and one to the Congress.

Natarajan filed her nomination as the Congress candidate. However, BJP leaders objected, alleging that she had not disclosed details of the Telangana case in her nomination papers. Acting on the complaint, the Returning Officer rejected her nomination, potentially paving the way for all three seats to go to the BJP.

The development has now become a subject of nationwide political debate.

Congress defence

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy, TPCC president Mahesh Kumar Goud and several ministers have maintained that no FIR has been registered against Natarajan and she only received a notice seeking a reply.

Also read: Congress approaches EC over rejection of Meenakshi Natarajan’s Rajya Sabha nomination

Congress leaders argue that she has no direct connection with the case and that rejecting her nomination on that basis is unjust. The party has challenged the decision in court.

The matter is now before both the court and the Election Commission.

The Congress worker’s stand

Speaking to The Federal Telangana about the issue, the woman worker said she had filed the case because she believed she had been denied justice.

She said she had informed Natarajan, in her capacity as the party’s Telangana in-charge, about the injustice she allegedly faced within the organisation, but did not receive any relief.

“When no one in the party responded to my grievance, what option did I have other than approaching the court?” she asked.

Also read: Meenakshi Natarajan RS nomination rejection: RO played judge, left no scope for cure

The woman clarified that Natarajan’s name was included in the case only because she was the party’s Telangana in-charge. She added that she had never sought any position or favour from Natarajan and had only requested justice.

The complainant also said she had approached the court because she felt she had not received justice within the party. She insisted that she never imagined the case would later create difficulties for Natarajan in the Rajya Sabha elections.

(This article was originally published in The Federal Telangana.)