YSR death theory case: Journalists get bail

The news report, telecast on Thursday night, triggered attacks by the late chief minister’s supporters on Reliance outlets in Hyderabad and in several towns of Rayalaseema region. The Hyderabad police had arrested TV5 executive editor Brahmananda Reddy and input editor Venkat Krishna for airing the news based on a report on a Russian website.

The police also booked two other channels, including Sakshi, owned by YSR’s son and Kadapa MP Y S Jaganmohan Reddy. While TV5 was the first to telecast the story, Sakshi and NTV followed the suit. Journalists across the state held protest rallies and staged demonstrations against the government’s attempt to “muzzle” the media.

Meanwhile, a court on Monday remanded Ch Vamshichand Reddy, former president of National Students’ Union of India, for two weeks in jail for allegedly instigating the attacks on Reliance stores by sending text messages to NSUI members. He was arrested on Sunday.

The Guntur district police arrested another Congress leader K Sambasiva Rao in connection with the attacks, while a former Congress minister M Mareppa was charged for making allegations of “assassination” of YSR in a TV interview that incited violence. The police said they have registered 114 cases and arrested 289 people for the attacks on Reliance properties. State Congress president D Srinivas has already served a show cause notice to the NSUI leader for his alleged involvement in the attacks.

Meanwhile, the case booked against Sakshi TV has been transferred to the CID.
The Andhra Pradesh High Court has directed the Telugu news channels to exercise restraint and not repeatedly telecast provocative speeches and visuals that create panic in the minds of the viewers.