Harish Rao files criminal defamation petition against Mahesh Goud, Dayakar

BRSLP deputy leader T Harish Rao has filed a criminal defamation petition against TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud and Congress MLC Addanki Dayakar over allegations that he performed occult rituals to prevent rains in Telangana

Hyderabad: BRSLP deputy leader and former Minister T Harish Rao on Thursday filed a criminal defamation petition against TPCC president B Mahesh Kumar Goud and Congress MLC Addanki Dayakar over allegations that he performed black magic and occult rituals. He approached the Nampally court for elected representatives in Hyderabad after the duo failed to offer a public apology despite receiving legal notices.

The Congress leaders had earlier alleged that Harish Rao visited different temples in Karnataka and performed occult rituals to prevent rains in Telangana.

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Strongly rejecting the allegations, Harish Rao said his religious beliefs were being deliberately politicised to damage his reputation and political standing. He demanded that Mahesh Kumar Goud and Dayakar publicly apologise and issued legal notices to them. With no apology forthcoming within the stipulated period, he has now moved the court, his lawyer said.