12 held for making derogatory social media posts against politicians

Kadapa police arrested a person for allegedly making a derogatory video post against politicians and their family members. Based on a complaint by TDP functionary Bojja Tirumalesh, the Chinna Chowk police registered a case on November 3, 2024, against Bathalapalli Srinivas Reddy (42) from Badvel town in Kadapa district.

The police had issued a lookout notice to the immigration authorities for the accused as he fled to Kuwait, from where he reportedly continued to make Facebook posts in favour of a political party and against legislators, especially women belonging to the ruling party.

When Srinivasulu Reddy reached Hyderabad airport from Kuwait on Monday, he was detained by the security staff. Based on the instructions of the Superintendent of Police (SP) Shelke Nachiket Vishwanath, a team led by Deputy Superintendent (Kadapa Town) Rajendra Prasad rushed to the airport, took him into custody and brought him to Kadapa.

After seizing his passport and the mobile phone used to access his Facebook account, Srinivasulu Reddy was taken to the court and later sent to judicial remand.

Eleven others

Meanwhile, the police also arrested 11 others for allegedly creating and forwarding offensive posts online using morphed images of Kadapa MLA Reddeppagari Madhavi Reddy.

A case was registered based on a complaint by the MLA’s spouse and TDP polit bureau member R. Srinivasa Reddy in September this year. Police launched a hunt for the accused, nabbed and produced them before the media on Tuesday.

The accused were identified as Nelavala Srinivasa Reddy (44) of Kurnool, Gurramkonda Shaik Noor Basha (47) of Proddatur, Palem Pratap Reddy (44) of Aravidu, Shaik Nizamuddin (30) of Kadapa, L. Ramakrishna Reddy (34) of Peddamudiam, Shaik Mohammad Riaz (51) of Kadapa, Syed Imran Basha (32) of Rayachoti, T. Potti Venkataramana (42) of Ramapuram, Syed Ismail Basha (50) of Kadapa, Shaik Jabiullah (30) of Kadapa and Shaik Mudassar (25) of Kadapa.

Mr. Shelke Nachiket Vishwanath cautioned the public that misusing social media by posting derogatory and obscene content could land them behind the bars.