Hyderabad police commissioner Sajjanar with singer Mangli
Hyderabad: Social media trolls in the city are learning the hard way that online abuse has real-world consequences. A man who posted vulgar, unbridled comments against popular folk singer Mangli has now backtracked, posting a video in which he retracts his remarks and apologises to her.
The climbdown came after a fan of the singer lodged a complaint with the SR Nagar police, urging them to act on the abusive posts. Once news of the complaint began doing the rounds, the abuser hurriedly released an online apology, this time pleading for forgiveness and admitting he had crossed the line.
Though it is not yet clear whether a formal case has been registered, the episode signals a shift – habitual abusers who once treated social media as a free-for-all space are beginning to realise that their words can invite police action and public backlash.
The development also follows an earlier representation by a group of women journalists and YouTubers, who submitted a memorandum to Police Commissioner Vishwanath Chengappa Sajjanar highlighting the surge in online abuse and trolling.
With Sajjanar’s reputation as a no-nonsense officer, his tough image appears to be nudging trolls to think twice before they type, and many see this emerging deterrence as a welcome change in Hyderabad’s online culture.