Amaravati, July 2 (IANS) A court in Andhra Pradesh’s Vizianagaram district on Thursday sent a journalist from Telangana to judicial custody in a case relating to alleged objectionable comments against Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan.

K. Venkatarami Reddy (KVR), who was arrested by Andhra Pradesh Police in Hyderabad on the night of June 30 (Tuesday), was produced before Bobbili court in Vizianagaram district, which sent him to judicial custody for 14 days.

KVR, who is a YouTuber and known as a political analyst, was booked by police in Vizianagaram district on a complaint by a former sarpanch, Kandi Ramesh of Badangi, on April 10.

The complainant had alleged that KVR made inappropriate remarks about the Indian Constitution, Chief Minister Chandrababu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and Minister Nara Lokesh.

KVR, who runs a YouTube channel, Myra Media, was served with notices by the police. As he failed to appear, a police team was sent to Hyderabad to arrest him.

He was brought to the Bobbili police station on Wednesday. After a medical check-up at a local hospital, he was produced before the court on Thursday.

Meanwhile, another YouTuber, Prashna Ravan, aka Joseph Bachalakuri, who was also arrested by Andhra Pradesh Police from Hyderabad on June 30 for alleged derogatory remarks against Deputy CM Pawan Kalyan, was shifted to Sarpavaram police station in Kakinada.

Tension prevailed at the police station as leaders and workers of Jana Sena staged a protest, demanding police hand over Ravan to them. The protestors tried to stop the vehicle transporting Ravan to the government hospital for medical examination. Some protestors hurled eggs at the vehicle carrying the YouTuber.

Ravan was produced before the Junior Civil Judge at Pithapuram on Wednesday. Though he was granted bail, he was re-arrested by police in connection with another case registered at Sarpavaram police station.

The cases were booked against Ravan for certain remarks made by him against Pawan Kalyan while speaking at a public meeting of Dalit Christians in Eluru.

Pawan Kalyan represents the Pithapuram Assembly constituency in Kakinada district.

Hours after the arrest of the two YouTubers, Pawan Kalyan issued a video statement, apparently to defend the police action.

The Deputy Chief Minister warned that those misusing social media would face legal action.

He also announced that a special cell would be opened in his office to receive complaints from the public about the misuse of social media.

Pawan Kalyan said that while anyone can criticise him and others in the government, those abusing them will face legal consequences.

–IANS

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