Telangana HC directs police not to arrest BRS social media convenor Manne Krishank

The Telangana High Court directed police not to arrest BRS social media convenor Manne Krishank in a case over a social media post. The court ordered compliance with Section 35(3) of the BNSS and directed Krishank to cooperate with the investigation.

Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: The Telangana High Court on Friday granted relief to BRS social media convenor Manne Krishank, directing the police not to arrest him in connection with a case registered over a social media post. Justice T Madhavi Devi directed the police not to arrest Krishank and made it clear that a notice under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS) should be issued to him and the procedure prescribed for offences punishable with imprisonment of less than seven years should be followed. The court also directed Krishank to fully cooperate with the investigation.

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The case against Krishank relates to a social media post concerning the questioning of Mahender Reddy, PA to BRS working president K T Rama Rao (KTR), and PRO Mahesh Manikya by the police at the Saifabad Police Station. Police registered a case against Krishank in connection with the post. Against the alleged highhanded action of the police, Krishank approached the High Court by way of a lunch-motion petition seeking directions restraining the police from arresting him.

Counsel for Krishank submitted that all the offences invoked in the FIR carried a maximum punishment of only three years’ imprisonment and warranted no arrest. However, the Home Government Pleader for the Home Department informed the court that Krishank had already been arrested. The petitioner’s counsel disputed the submission and told the court that Krishank had not been arrested as of 4.20 p.m. on Friday and that he was before the Magistrate’s Court. After hearing both sides, the judge directed the police not to arrest Krishank and ordered that the procedure prescribed under Section 35(3) of the BNSS be followed.