Harish Rao slams Congress government for booking cases against scribes in Mancherial

Unfair to book cases against Athe Sagar from a Telugu daily, Vodnala Satyanarayana of ‘Namasthe Telangana’ for exposing erring officials, says BRS leader

Mancherial: Former minister T Harish Rao slammed the State government for registering cases against two scribes including one working with ‘Namasthe Telangana’. He took to his X handle and posted the first information report of the cases on Saturday.

Rao said that it was unfair to book cases against Athe Sagar from a Telugu newspaper and Vodnala Satyanarayana of ‘Namasthe Telangana’ for exposing errant officials. He termed it an act of suppressing voices. He wondered whether restoration of democracy means registering cases against reporters.

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He demanded the government to withdraw the cases and to respect freedom of press.

Based on a complaint received from Panchayat Secretary Sandhyarani, Hajipur police registered a case against Sagar and Satyanarayana under Section 132 (assault or criminal force to deter public servant from discharge of his duty), 292 (public nuisance) and 351 (criminal intimidation) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita on Friday. Investigations were taken up.

It may be recalled that ‘Namasthe Telangana’ published a news report stating that property tax was allegedly deducted from pensions of some beneficiaries at Namnur village in Hajipur mandal recently. DRDO officials returned Rs 2,000 to a beneficiary, Chukkamma, after conducting an inquiry into the allegations. Subsequently, Namnur Panchayat Secretary Sandhyarani was suspended.