Hyderabad: A court in Nampally has instructed the Hyderabad police to file a criminal defamation case against Telangana Forest Minister Konda Surekha. This order comes after a petition by BRS working president K T Rama Rao.
The court decided there was enough reason to act under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), which deals with criminal defamation, along with Sections 222 and 223.
Last year, KTR accused Surekha of making harmful and false statements that damaged his reputation. He called for legal action, arguing that Surekha’s remarks were not just personal attacks but also damaged his public image.
KTR pointed out that Surekha has a history of making defamatory remarks. He reminded the court that she had been previously warned by the Election Commission for similar statements.
KTR claimed her actions were intentional attempts to harm his reputation. He noted a pattern of malicious behavior on her part.
The petition came after Surekha alleged that KTR was responsible for the divorce of Tollywood actors Naga Chaitanya and Samantha. She also claimed KTR was involved in drugs and hosted rave parties. The court ordered a criminal case against Surekha and required her to respond by August 21.
The court also discussed a pen drive submitted as evidence by KTR. Surekha’s team argued that a Section 65-B certificate was necessary for electronic evidence.
The court decided this issue could be addressed during the trial, ensuring all legal procedures are followed. It concluded there was a strong initial case of a punishable offense under the BNS rules.
