Osmania row: Why was BRS leader Krishank Manne arrested?

Hyderabad: BRS Social media convenor Krishank Manne was arrested by Hyderabad police for forgery. The case is about a letter by Osmania University Chief Warden, which cops claimed that he (Krishank) manipulated and posted on X.

It all began when the Chief Warden of Osmania University issued a letter stating the hostel and messes would remain closed for May due to power and water scarcity. The BRS launched a frontal attack on the Congress government for not being able to provide basic facilities to the students.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy took to social media and posted a letter dated 2023 where the same reason (water and power scarcity) was mentioned. In a counterattack, BRS leader Krishank Manne termed the letter posted by the Chief Minister to be ‘fake’. Other BRS social media influencers followed.

On May 1, Krishank was picked up by cops when he was on his way from Warangal to Hyderabad. He was initially detained for hours which created a panic since his location was untraceable. Later in the night, he was produced before the Secunderabad court.

What did the remand report say?

The investigation has established that the accused Manne Krishna is working as a social media convener in the BRS party and Nagender (23yrs) is a student leader of Nizam College.

On April 30, when one of the complainants was browsing X, it was found that Manne Krishank posted an OU Chief Warden’s 2023 letter.

The 2023 letter did not state that the OU hostel messes were closed due to water scarcity.

Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy also posted a letter of 2023 wherein the BRS govt had talked about the shortage of water and electricity shortage in Osmania University hostels. Due to this, the hostels and messes were closed from May 14, .2023 to June 5, 2023.

Cops claimed Krishank manipulated the letter and posted with a vested interest in damaging the government.

Further, Manne Krishna informed the same to another BRS party worker Nagender Rao. They discussed the same notice and planned to manipulate the matter in support of BRS. They changed the contents of the letter and wrote "summer vacations to hostel students from 14.05.2023 to 05.06.2023 afternoon in place of power shortage and electricity shortage" with malafide intention.

According to cops, this is a case of document forgery to harm the reputation political party.

"Krishank voluntarily admitted his guilt of offence and he was ready to depose his confessional statement," Cops said.

Reason for arrest:

The accused is young, energetic, and active in social media groups, he may create rivalries between political parties. If the accused person is not arrested there is every possibility he may commit olfences again given the upcoming elections.

During the arrest, Manne Krishna handed over his mobile phone to his car driver.

A case under sections 417,465, 471 IPC & 505(b) IPC to 466, 468, 469, 417, 505 (1) (c) IPC, has been booked.

However, the Investigation in this case is not yet completed, more witnesses have to be examined. While the second accused is absconding.