Wed Mar 12 13:53:25 UTC 2025: **Telangana Journalists Arrested, Sparking Political Row**
HYDERABAD, TELANGANA – The arrest of two journalists and a social media user has ignited a fierce political battle in Telangana. Hyderabad Police’s Cyber Crime division detained Pogadadanda Revathi, Managing Director of Pulse News, and reporter Thanvi Yadav, along with an X account user (“NippuKodi”), for allegedly publishing and amplifying abusive content targeting Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.
The arrests stem from a complaint filed by the head of the Congress party’s state social media unit. The complaint centers on a video posted on the “NippuKodi” X account, featuring a Pulse News interview where an individual allegedly made derogatory remarks about the Chief Minister. The charges against the three include publishing obscene material, organized crime, criminal conspiracy, spreading rumors to incite hatred, and provoking a breach of peace.
The arrests have drawn sharp condemnation from the opposition Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS). BRS leader KT Rama Rao accused the Congress government of intolerance and stifling dissent, claiming the arrests represent a return to an “Emergency-style” rule. He highlighted the early morning raid on Ms. Revathi’s home and described the arrests as illegal and atrocious. He questioned the Congress party’s commitment to press freedom, noting that Ms. Revathi had faced similar arrests under the previous BRS government. Mr. Rao also criticized Rahul Gandhi, sarcastically referencing his campaign imagery with the Indian Constitution.
The BJP’s Shehzad Poonawalla also joined the criticism, condemning the Congress for arresting a journalist for showcasing the difficulties faced by Telangana farmers.
The incident has raised serious concerns about press freedom and freedom of speech in the state, prompting a heated debate over the limits of political expression and the role of law enforcement in handling criticism of the government.
First Piper 