KTR hails Telangana HC verdict quashing cases against BRS activist ‘Nalla Balu’

BRS leader KT Rama Rao welcomed the Telangana High Court’s decision to quash three cases against party activist Shashidhar Goud, arrested for reposting BRS content online. The court criticised the police for their illegal actions and warned against stifling free speech.

Hyderabad: BRS working president KT Rama Rao on Wednesday hailed the Telangana High Court verdict quashing three cases against BRS social media activist Shashidhar Goud alias Nalla Balu, who was jailed for over 20 days merely for reposting BRS posts on X.

He termed the court verdict a resounding slap in the face of the Congress government, which has been harassing BRS leaders, cadre and social media activists with politically motivated cases for the past 21 months.

---

The High Court issued a stern warning against curtailing free speech and directed the State police to ensure that such abuse of law is not repeated. It observed that the police acted illegally by breaking into the petitioner’s house and making the arrest, and laid down strict guidelines to prevent misuse of law in free speech cases, he pointed out.

Calling the judgment a watershed moment, Rama Rao appealed to the DGP and the Director of Telangana Cyber Security Bureau to stop targeting BRS supporters and social media warriors. He also asserted that the BRS would always stand firmly by its workers and protect those fighting to bring back former Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao’s leadership.

He urged the Revanth Reddy government to respect the court’s directions and immediately end the harassment of BRS cadre and ordinary citizens exercising their democratic right to free speech.