India: Two women journalists arrested in Hyderabad for circulating abusive video against Telangana CM

Hyderabad: The Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have arrested two women journalists from Pulse News for circulating a derogatory and abusive video containing offensive remarks against Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.

Pogadadanda Revathi, Managing Director of Pulse News, and Bandi Sandhya alias Thanvi Yadav, a reporter for the news channel, were booked along with the user of an ‘X’ account named ‘NippuKodi’ following a complaint filed by Congress social media cell state secretary.

The two journalists were charged under Section 67 (publication or transmission of obscene material in electronic form) of the Information Technology Act, along with Sections 111 (organised crime), 61(2) (criminal conspiracy), 353(2) (spreading false information or rumours that incite hatred or ill will between groups), and 352 (intentionally insulting someone to provoke a breach of peace) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).

According to the complainant, the video, which appeared on the ‘X’ account ‘NippuKodi’, showed a Pulse News representative interviewing an unidentified individual who made derogatory remarks targeting Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

The complainant stated that the video appeared to be part of a deliberate attempt by Pulse News to spread false propaganda and defame the CM.

The complainant also highlighted that such provocative material could incite divisions within society and potentially disturb law and order.

Police investigations revealed that Revathi had been involved in a previous case for verbally abusing a Dalit on a live show, for which she had been arrested and later released on bail. She was also involved in a case last year for making false allegations against the Telangana State Power Distribution Company Limited.

Meanwhile, Thanvi Yadav is accused of posting multiple abusive videos aimed at the state government and Chief Minister Revanth Reddy.

The police have seized two laptops, two hard disks, one Pulse Media mike logo, a wireless router, and seven CPUs in connection with the case.

The Cyber Crime Police have urged citizens to be cautious when posting or sharing content on social media platforms, warning that circulating defamatory, abusive, or provocative material against public figures and government officials is punishable under Indian law.