Senior Journalist Kommineni Srinivasa Rao Arrested
Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, a senior journalist affiliated with Sakshi TV, was taken into custody by the Andhra Pradesh Police on Monday morning following allegations that he made remarks disparaging women from Amaravati. He was arrested at his residence in Hyderabad and is currently being transported to Vijayawada. The development has triggered widespread public debate across the state.
The controversy stems from a recent debate aired on Sakshi Channel, during which journalist Krishnam Raju reportedly said, “Amaravati is not a capital of goddesses, but a capital of prostitutes.” The remarks sparked widespread outrage throughout Andhra Pradesh. Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, who served as the moderator for the program, was accused by women from the Amaravati region of speaking in a manner that supported Krishnam Raju’s statements.
The comments prompted strong reactions from women’s organizations and multiple political parties, who organized statewide protests and rallies demanding immediate action against those responsible. Several police complaints were filed, including one at the Thullur Police Station by women from the Amaravati Capital Region against both Krishnam Raju and Kommineni Srinivasa Rao. In addition, Kambhampati Sirisha, Director of the Madiga Corporation and a resident of the SC-reserved Tadikonda constituency, also filed a complaint alleging that Dalit women were insulted during the broadcast.
Following these complaints, police conducted a detailed review of the debate video aired on Sakshi Channel. On Sunday evening, a case was officially registered at the Thullur Police Station. Journalist Krishnam Raju was listed as Accused No. 1 (A1), Kommineni Srinivasa Rao as Accused No. 2 (A2), and the Sakshi Channel management as Accused No. 3 (A3). The First Information Report (FIR) includes non-bailable sections under the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and the Information Technology Act.
In view of the gravity of the allegations, the government reportedly directed authorities to initiate immediate action. Special police teams arrived at Kommineni Srinivasa Rao’s residence in the Journalist Colony in Hyderabad on Monday morning and took him into custody. Police confirmed that he is being transferred to Vijayawada, after which he is likely to be presented at either the Guntur or Mangalagiri court following a stop at the Thullur Police Station.
Meanwhile, efforts are underway to locate journalist Krishnam Raju, the primary accused in the case. Police sources reported that his residence in Vijayawada was found locked, and preliminary information suggests he may be hiding in Hyderabad. As a result, special police teams from Vijayawada and Thullur have headed to Hyderabad to apprehend him. Authorities are making intensified efforts to detain him by Monday evening.