The Telangana Police on Wednesday arrested two journalists associated with Pulse NewsManaging Director Pogadadanda Revathi and reporter Thanvi Yadavfor allegedly posting and amplifying content deemed abusive against Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. According to officials familiar with the case, a third individual, operating an account under the username “NippuKodi” on social media platform X, has also been detained for sharing the controversial video.

The arrests were made following a complaint lodged by the chief of the state Congresss social media unit, accusing them of publishing obscene material, engaging in organized crime and criminal conspiracy, spreading rumors to incite public hatred, and provoking a breach of peace.

Controversial Video and Allegations Against Journalists

The video in question was allegedly filmed at the headquarters of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) in Hyderabad. It was later circulated on social media, where a Pulse News reporter is seen interviewing an individual who reportedly makes highly derogatory and abusive remarks about Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

The complaint asserts that the video was deliberately created and disseminated with the intent to defame the CM and stir political unrest. According to police officials, the content was not only provocative but also had the potential to incite violence. They believe this was a deliberate attempt by Pulse News to spread propaganda against the ruling government.

Judicial Custody and Previous Cases

Following their arrest, the two journalists were presented in court and subsequently remanded in judicial custody for 14 days. Authorities revealed that both Revathi and Yadav had two prior cases registered against them.

P. Viswaprasad, Additional Commissioner of Police (Crimes and Special Investigation Team), stated that investigations indicate a premeditated effort to tarnish the chief ministers image. He mentioned that the video was recorded at the BRS office in Banjara Hills in February and was strategically released on March 10just before the state budget sessionsuggesting an orchestrated effort to defame the CM.

The content of the video crosses all boundaries of decency and is filled with vulgar, derogatory, and abusive language. The accused have been involved in similar activities before, using social media to gain fame and views. Evidence suggests that they have received financial incentives from the BRS. We will investigate all aspects of this matter, Viswaprasad stated.

Investigation into the Video and Further Actions

The police also confirmed that the individual who appeared in the video and made abusive remarks against the chief minister would be identified and booked under relevant charges. Authorities noted that the YouTube channel in question had only been operational for two months, but its content strategy involved provoking people to make defamatory remarks about the CM on camera.

Given the serious nature of the allegations, law enforcement agencies are extending their probe to uncover any potential financial transactions or external influence behind the creation and spread of the video.

Political Reactions and Accusations of Intolerance

The arrests have sparked strong political reactions, particularly from the BRS. Senior BRS leader K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) criticized the Congress-led state government, accusing it of intolerance toward criticism.

Taking to X, KTR compared the situation to the imposition of the Emergency in India, stating, It feels like a state of Emergency has returned in Telangana… The Congress government is displaying an extreme level of intolerance.

The incident has ignited a debate on press freedom and the extent to which media houses and journalists can criticize political leaders. While law enforcement views this as a case of organized defamation, opposition voices argue that the arrests reflect a crackdown on dissent.

As the investigation unfolds, further legal and political developments are expected in this case, which has already drawn considerable public and media attention.