Hyderabad: BRS social media activist Konatham Dileep arrested for allegedly criticising Congress govt

Hyderabad: Konatham Dileep, a key social media activist of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), was arrested here on Monday, November 18, for allegedly posting objectionable messages criticising the ruling Congress government in the state, police sources said.

The police reportedly took him to the Osmania Hospital for medical examination and later produced him before the magistrate for remand.

Hours prior to his detention, Dileep shared a picture of himself on X with the caption, “Sar par qafan bandh ke chalne waale, mauth se nahi darthe (Those who tie a shroud on their head are not afraid of death).” He was standing near a monument of a lion.

Dileep, who was the Telangana digital media director under the previous BRS government, was also questioned by the city police in September this year over a social media post on the alleged assault on a tribal woman in Asifabad district.

A criminal case was registered against him based on a complaint filed by a person named R Nitish Kumar, a police constable at the cyber crime police station.

In response to the detention, BRS working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) stated that Dileep was detained for exposing the shortcomings of the Congress administration. He claimed that the Congress government, which claimed to be supporters of democracy, was enforcing the Nizam’s constitution and dictatorship in Telangana.

“How long do you intend to erode democracy and keep making these unauthorized arrests? The BRS could not be intimidated by such unlawful arrests and baseless threats,” he declared, adding, “As lovers of democracy, we will fight you democratically.”

Alleging that Dileep has been “arrested,” former Minister and senior BRS leader T Harish Rao said the Congress government should stop vindictive activities. “We strongly condemn the arrest of Telangana activist @KonathamDileep. We demand immediate release,” Harish Rao said in a post on X.