BRS serves legal notices on Velugu over KCR-farmhouse report

The BRS has served legal notices on Telugu daily Velugu over a report linking Kondapochamma Sagar water diversion to KCR’s Erravelli farm. The party has demanded withdrawal, an unconditional apology and warned of defamation proceedings if its demands remain unmet

Hyderabad: The Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) has served legal notices on the management and editor of Telugu daily Velugu, demanding the withdrawal of a report linking the diversion of water from Kondapochamma Sagar to the Erravelli farm of BRS chief and former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao.

The party alleged that the report was politically motivated and intended to damage the reputation of its leader and create doubts among the public about irrigation projects developed during the previous BRS government.

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The notices, issued by BRS general secretary and legal cell in-charge Soma Bharat Kumar, sought an unconditional apology within 24 hours over the report titled ‘KCR farmhouse-ku mallina Kondapochamma’, published on the newspaper’s front page on October 17.

Questioning the basis of the report, the BRS asked whether official Irrigation Department records had been examined, canal routes verified and the officials concerned contacted before linking Kondapochamma Sagar and its canal network to KCR’s agricultural land.

“Publishing sensational allegations without verifying facts or obtaining official explanations is contrary to journalistic standards,” the party said.

The BRS accused the newspaper of attempting to discredit irrigation projects undertaken by the previous government for political gain. It also warned against using the press as a platform for political propaganda under the guise of press freedom.

The party said it respected press freedom and the media’s right to question governments and political leaders, but maintained that such freedom carried responsibility and that allegations affecting a person’s reputation must be supported by evidence.

The legal notices demanded that Velugu withdraw the report, provide an explanation supported by evidence and publish an unconditional apology to Chandrashekhar Rao and the BRS. The apology, the notices said, should appear prominently on the front page and also be published on the newspaper’s digital platforms and official social media accounts.

The BRS legal cell warned that failure to comply within 24 hours would invite legal action, including defamation proceedings and action under other applicable laws, against the newspaper and the persons concerned.

The party said it would not tolerate what it described as deliberate misinformation about KCR or irrigation projects in Telangana.