The Crossbill News Desk
Hyderabad police arrested Telugu journalists Revathi Pogadadanda and Thanvi Yadav on Wednesday, March 12, in connection with a viral video featuring a farmer hurling abuses at Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy and the Congress government.
The duo was booked under Section 67 of the IT Act, as well as Sections 353(2) (false statement) and 352 (punishment for assault) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The arrests followed a complaint lodged by a Congress social media state secretary, who accused the journalists of sharing the controversial clip.
In the video, the farmer is seen lashing out at Reddy, his mother, and the Telangana Congress, expressing frustration over the alleged lack of welfare measures.
During the operation, Hyderabad’s cybercrime police seized two laptops and a microphone from the journalists. In a press statement, the police warned that sharing "false or defamatory" content, including against public officials, could result in legal action.
“If anyone creates, shares, endorses or amplifies content intended to incite unrest or disrupt public order can be legally prosecuted. Uploading and disseminating offensive, abusive, or false information through electronic media is punishable under the Information Technology (IT) Act," the statement read.
The police also encouraged victims of social media trolling to seek help by contacting local police or cybercrime units.
Before her arrest, Pogadadanda released a video alleging that Chief Minister Reddy was attempting to silence her. The police's decision to publish the journalists' photos in their statement, akin to criminal mugshots, has sparked widespread criticism.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) condemned the arrests, likening them to an "emergency-style rule" in Telangana.
"The raid on the house at 5 am and the illegal arrest of journalist Revathi is a testament to the ongoing emergency-style rule in the state," KTR wrote on X.
“The arrest of journalists who posted a video of a farmer expressing the hardships he faces under the Congress government is the culmination of this government's restrictive rule. There is no freedom of the media under public rule! Is this the constitutional rule that Rahul Gandhi is talking about?” he asked.
In another post on X, KTR directly addressed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, questioning the party’s stance on press freedom.
"Arresting two women journalists in the wee hours of the morning!! What is their crime? Giving voice to the public opinion on incompetent & corrupt Congress Govt Last I checked, the Constitution of India that you hold regularly, upholds Freedom of Speech Mr. Gandhi," he wrote.
The incident has sparked outrage among journalists and opposition leaders, raising concerns over press freedom and political suppression in Telangana.
The duo was booked under Section 67 of the IT Act, as well as Sections 353(2) (false statement) and 352 (punishment for assault) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
The arrests followed a complaint lodged by a Congress social media state secretary, who accused the journalists of sharing the controversial clip.
In the video, the farmer is seen lashing out at Reddy, his mother, and the Telangana Congress, expressing frustration over the alleged lack of welfare measures.
During the operation, Hyderabad’s cybercrime police seized two laptops and a microphone from the journalists. In a press statement, the police warned that sharing "false or defamatory" content, including against public officials, could result in legal action.
“If anyone creates, shares, endorses or amplifies content intended to incite unrest or disrupt public order can be legally prosecuted. Uploading and disseminating offensive, abusive, or false information through electronic media is punishable under the Information Technology (IT) Act," the statement read.
The police also encouraged victims of social media trolling to seek help by contacting local police or cybercrime units.
Before her arrest, Pogadadanda released a video alleging that Chief Minister Reddy was attempting to silence her. The police's decision to publish the journalists' photos in their statement, akin to criminal mugshots, has sparked widespread criticism.
Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) condemned the arrests, likening them to an "emergency-style rule" in Telangana.
"The raid on the house at 5 am and the illegal arrest of journalist Revathi is a testament to the ongoing emergency-style rule in the state," KTR wrote on X.
“The arrest of journalists who posted a video of a farmer expressing the hardships he faces under the Congress government is the culmination of this government's restrictive rule. There is no freedom of the media under public rule! Is this the constitutional rule that Rahul Gandhi is talking about?” he asked.
In another post on X, KTR directly addressed Congress leader Rahul Gandhi, questioning the party’s stance on press freedom.
"Arresting two women journalists in the wee hours of the morning!! What is their crime? Giving voice to the public opinion on incompetent & corrupt Congress Govt Last I checked, the Constitution of India that you hold regularly, upholds Freedom of Speech Mr. Gandhi," he wrote.
The incident has sparked outrage among journalists and opposition leaders, raising concerns over press freedom and political suppression in Telangana.
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