"Must learn a lesson": BRS leader welcomes criminal charges against Telangana minister Surekha for alleged defamatory remarks against KTR

Hyderabad (Telangana) [India], August 3 (ANI): Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader Ravula Sridhar Reddy hit out at Congress leaders, saying that the ministers in Telangana government "must learn a lesson, and learn how to behave in public life."
Reddy welcomed the Nampally Court ordering to register a criminal case Telangana minister and Congress leader Konda Surekha for her alleged defamatory remarks against KT Rama Rao (KTR).
While welcoming the court order, the BRS leader told ANI on Saturday, "We welcome the verdict of the court that the Nampally Court has directed the police to register a criminal case against the minister. The Congress government and their ministers must learn a lesson and understand how to behave in public life."
After reviewing preliminary evidence submitted by the complainant, the court observed that there is prima facie material to proceed under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) (defamation) and corresponding procedural provisions under the BNSS Sections 222 read with 223.
Advocate Siddharth Pogula, counsel for BRS working president KTR, also welcomed the court order, saying that minister Surekha would have to attend the proceedings in person after the court sent a summons to her for August 21.
"I am happy that the Nampally Court has taken cognisance against Telangana Minister Konda Surekha in the defamation trial. It has also asked that the summons be sent by August 21st. She will have to appear in the court in person and begin the trial," the advocate told ANI.
The Namapally court has instructed that a criminal case (CC) be registered and a notice be served to the accused on or before August 21, 2025.
The court concurred with the arguments of KTR's counsel, who stated that Minister Konda Surekha made baseless and defamatory allegations against KTR in public, all without any factual basis.
Responding to objections raised by Konda Surekha's legal team, the court firmly rejected their contentions that the complaint was speculative or outside jurisdiction. The bench ruled that the court had proper authority to admit the complaint, citing a previous High Court direction (Criminal Petition No 5670/2024).
The court held that the electronic material in question would be evaluated according to legal procedure when the case reaches the evidence stage.
Importantly, the court noted that there was no proof that Konda Surekha's controversial statements had already appeared in the media, reinforcing the claim that these specific remarks were made directly by her and could not be dismissed as hearsay or misreporting. (ANI)