In a fresh development, former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's ex-CPRO Pudi Srihari was taken into custody by Guntur Kothapeta police on Thursday in connection with a social media abuse case. This arrest came shortly after he was released by Kuppam police following a local court's order.
Background of the Arrest
Kuppam police had detained Srihari in Bengaluru on Wednesday morning after he failed to secure relief from the Supreme Court. He was subsequently shifted to Kuppam and presented before a local court on Thursday morning. The Kuppam court directed the police to release Srihari after serving him notices under section 35(3) of the BNS Act. Following the order, he was taken back to the police station, where the notices were served. However, before his release could be finalized, Kothapeta police from Guntur district arrived at the Kuppam police station and took Srihari into custody in connection with another social media case registered at Kothapeta police station.
Complaint by TDP Legislator
The second case was based on a complaint filed by Guntur East TDP legislator Mohammed Naseer Ahmed. The specific details of the complaint have not been disclosed, but it pertains to alleged abuse on social media platforms.
Political Reactions
YSRCP spokesperson and former Proddatur MLA Rachamallu Sivaprasad Reddy condemned the arrest, alleging that the NDA government is using police force to suppress opposition voices. "Within a fortnight, Srihari was arrested twice in the same case. Such witch-hunting tactics and blatant misuse of police force are highly condemnable," he said. Reddy further claimed that the back-to-back booking of Srihari in social media abuse cases clearly establishes the government's motive to stifle the voice of the opposition by filing false cases against YSRCP functionaries.
Legal Proceedings
The legal proceedings in the matter are ongoing. Srihari's legal team is expected to challenge the latest arrest in court. The case highlights the ongoing political tensions between the ruling TDP-led NDA government and the opposition YSRCP in Andhra Pradesh.
