Revanth Reddy’s chef in prison hopes to turn a new leaf

It was a chance encounter inside a prison that changed the life of Nagula Nagayya. Nagayya, serving a term for drowning his child, met A. Revanth Reddy when the latter was incarcerated at the Cherlapally Prison in the cash-for-votes scam in 2015. Nagayya became the cook and laundry helper for Mr. Reddy. “Revanth Reddy treated me with respect and spoke to me as an equal,” Nagayya says as he juggles phone calls from his well wishers and Congress party workers. “It felt like bonding with a stranger during a long journey,” he added.

Nagayya was in prison for drowning his son and spent 15 years behind bars before he was granted premature release on July 4, 2024, by the Telangana government for good behaviour.

As a cook, Nagayya served fruit salads with bananas, mangoes and guavas for breakfast and prepared chapatis with rice for dinner— meals that Mr. Reddy praised during an interview in 2015. Those words of appreciation stayed with Nagayya, encouraging him to reconnect with the Chief Minister after his release.

Armed with a video clip from the over one hour-hour long interview, he approached Mr. Reddy’s personal assistant, which led to a heartwarming reunion on New Year’s Eve. “I will never forget this new year in my life,” said Nagayya.

During the meeting, Mr. Reddy assured Nagayya of his support in terms of a job and shared a contact for further assistance. “I don’t have any specific skills, but I’m ready to do whatever work he asks me to. Personally, I would wish to amplify the government schemes and make masses aware of its benefits,” said Nagayya, adding that he plans to visit the Chief Minister again in 10 days with Kunduru Jayaveer Reddy, the MLA of his area in Nagarjuna Sagar, Nalgonda. Nagayya also hopes to invite the Chief Minister to his daughter’s wedding. “I am positive that he will oblige to my request and bless the couple,” he said.

Nagayya’s time behind bars saw him move between Cherlapally, Chanchalguda and Nalgonda prisons, with one month of parole granted annually. Now back home in Nagarjuna Sagar, his family is finally reunited. “Our family is living together in harmony,” his wife shared, as Nagayya looks forward to rebuilding his life.