Bengaluru: Home minister Ramalinga Reddy has filed a case against his former associate for allegedly defaming him in his constituency by collecting money from party workers and promising Congress seats in various elections and spreading rumours about his benami property.

Adugodi police registered a case against Sudhindra Reddy alias Chamaraja Reddy. The minister said that Sudhindra came to him 15 years ago as a party worker and that he helped the latter grow to the position of Congress Koramangala Block president.

Police booked Sudhindra under IPC sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 385 (putting person in fear of injury to commit extortion).