Hyderabad, Aug 31 (IANS): Telangana police have booked former Andhra Pradesh minister G. Mohan Reddy for threatening canal construction workers with his licensed revolver.

The incident occurred on Sunday evening in Urumadla village of Chityala mandal in Nalgonda district when the workers were digging an irrigation canal through his field.

According to police, Mohan Reddy during an argument with the site engineer and JCB operator, whipped out his revolver and ordered them to leave.

The video of the former minister threatening the workers went viral on social media. On a complaint by the site engineer Narender, police registered a case against Reddy under the Arms Act.

Police arrested Mohan Reddy but later released him on a personal bond. They also seized the weapon and 25 bullets. He was directed to appear before police again on Monday.

"Mohan Reddy obstructed the canal digging work and wanted the site engineer to change the alignment of the canal so that it does not cut across his field," said Chityala Circle Inspector of Police Shankar Reddy.

Officials said Mohan Reddy's land was acquired for construction of the irrigation canal and the compensation amount for the same was credited to his bank account. He, however, raised objections when digging work was taken up on Sunday and threatened the workers.

Mohan Reddy was elected to undivided Andhra Pradesh Legislative Assembly in 1978 and 1983 and served as agriculture minister in Nadendla Bhaskar Rao's cabinet for a month.