Second case slapped on TRS worker for threatening journalists

Hyderabad : Trouble is mounting for TRS worker Saikiran Reddy who had allegedly posted videos on various social media platforms threatening journalists at Neredmet.

Malkajgiri police of Rachakonda commissionerate registered a fresh case against him under section 504, 506 of IPC and section 67 of the IT act on Friday. This comes two days after Malkajgiri based journalists lodged a complaint against him. The accused is reportedly a TRS party worker and a follower of Malkajgiri MLA Mynampali Hanmanth Rao’s son Rohith.

What led to him do this was, a few days ago, an eighty-year-old man from Sri Nagar at Neredmet was tested positive for COVID 19. While he was shifted to isolation at Gandhi hospital, his son, a retired army officer, and his members were shifted to a quarantine center.

After the incident, a few channels aired news saying that the COVID positive person had distributed food among needy persons and Neredmet police have also taken part in the event.

The news also claimed that the police personnel and participants and those who received food were at risk. However, Neredmet police denied the claims that the patient had distributed food and they took part in any such program. Further, they have also registered a case against the news channels.

After this incident, Sai Kiran Reddy, who is also a resident of the area, took to social media and posted a video abusing and threatening journalists. He claimed that the journalists have created panic in the area and people are scared. He threatened journalists of dire consequences once he is out of the quarantine. In the video, he claimed that the media is not presenting a true picture, while the actual situation is more worrying and dangerous.

P Srinivas, a journalist who came across these videos, approached the Cybercrime wing of Hyderabad. The first case under relevant charges of the IPC and the IT act was registered against Sai Kiran Reddy.

The police officials maintained that the complaints were sent for a legal opinion. Further, they also reportedly tried to avoid acting on the complaints, citing the case registered by cybercrime wing at Hyderabad.

Journalists later approached higher officials of the Rachakonda police and sought a speedy investigation. Questions were also raised if the police were under political pressure not to act against Saikiran Reddy, as he is known to be a close aide of Malkajgiri MLA Mynampally Hanmanth Rao’s son Mynamapalli Rohith.

Further, questions were raised on social media platforms over the inaction of Malkajgiri and Neredmet police with regard to the first case. Senior officials took notice of the allegations and registered a fresh case.