Hyderabad, May 2
Telangana Rashtra Samithi legislator Kasipeta Lingaiah, facing charges of human trafficking, was today taken into police custody for interrogation.

Lingaiah, a rebel TRS MLA representing Nerella constituency in Karimnagar district, was alleged to have procured passport for a woman from Gujarat claiming she was his wife.

In another development, Rashid, the key man in the human trafficking scam, is said to have been nabbed by the city police. Rashid is the alleged travel agent from Hyderabad whom Katara aide Sunder Lal Yadav had allegedly introduced to two MPs.

Meanwhile, searches were conducted today at Lingaiah's residences in the city and at his hometown Godavarikhani in Karimnagar district.

Lingaiah became the first legislator to be sent to jail in the sensational scam. Following media reports exposing his alleged role in the fake passports case, Lingaiah had surrendered before a criminal court here on April 27 and was sent to Chanchalguda prison.

Framing charges against him under Sections 419, 420, 468 and 471 of the IPC and Section 12 (1) (6) of the Passport Act, the police moved a local court here yesterday seeking police custody, which was granted for eight days.

Meanwhile, the police is on the look-out for another TRS rebel, MLA S. Bapurao from Adilabad district, for his alleged role in the scandal.