Hyderabad, January 09: Two editors of a private Telugu satellite channel were taken into custody tonight by the crime branch (CID) in the wake of a last night telecast, alleging involvement of India’s top corporate house in the conspiracy behind the death of former Chief Minister Dr Y S Rajasekhara Reddy, which led to large-scale violence and destruction of properties.
Amid high-drama, police took into custody Executive Editor Brahmananda Reddy and Input Editor Venkata Krishna after dispersing journalists of the TV 5 who tried to block the police vehicle after Banajara Hills police station registered a case against the channel.
The case was registered under section 153 A (causing disharmony) and 503 (2) (causing enmity in the communities of the people) IPC following damage caused to the outlets, malls and petrol stations of Reliance Industry Limited and mobile towers and communication marts.
As supporters of late Chief Minister YSR and his son Jagan Yuvasena went on a rampage after the telecast on the basis of a report in a Russian Portal on September 3 hinting at possible conspiracy behind the helicopter crash of September 2 killing YSR, targetting Reliance and other public properties, the state government took a serious note on the alleged libellous news and asked the police to register a case against TV 5 for its ”breaking news”.
Home Minister Sabitha Indra Reddy after a high-level review with Chief Minister Rosaiah and DGP Girish Kumar sent the CBCID to the channel’s office in the morning. The police team took the footage, hard discs and other computer periphals associated with the telecast. At around 2000 hrs, they took into custody both the editors for further investigation.
Cases were also registered against two more Telugu channels under same sections of IPC at the Punjagutta police statio, police sources said.
Action is likely to be initiated against them tonight or tomorrow as the sections under which the cases were registered were non-bailable.
Media organisations have staged protest in few cities of the state against the arrest of editors, channel sources said.
——-Agencies