Telangana HC grants arrest protection to BRS leader Krishank in social media case

The Telangana High Court granted arrest protection to BRS social media convenor Manne Krishank in a case over alleged false social media posts concerning Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy’s daughter Naimisha Reddy, directing police to issue notice under BNSS Section 35(3).

Legal Correspondent

Hyderabad: Justice T. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday granted protection from arrest to BRS social media convenor Manne Krishank in a case registered over alleged false social media posts concerning Naimisha Reddy, daughter of Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy. The Court directed the police to issue notice to Krishank under Section 35(3) of the BNSS and to proceed with the investigation in accordance with law.

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Krishank approached the High Court by way of a lunch motion seeking protection from arrest in the FIR registered by the Crimes and Detective Department on a complaint lodged by Congress leader Mettu Saikumar. The complaint alleged that Krishank had made false posts on social media claiming that Naimisha Reddy owned several properties and pharmaceutical companies. Counsel for Krishank contended that the police had registered the FIR without properly examining the allegations in the complaint. It was argued that in offences punishable with imprisonment of up to seven years, the police cannot mechanically arrest an accused and must follow the guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court.

Counsel also alleged that persons in plain clothes had been following Krishank and staying near his residence. The counsel sought protection from arrest, relying on the principles laid down by the Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar and Lalita Kumari. Government Pleader for Home Mahesh Raje opposed the plea, pointing out that the FIR had been registered only on Monday and that the investigation was still at an initial stage. He urged the Court not to grant any relief at this stage.

After hearing both sides, Justice Madhavi Devi directed the police to issue notice to Krishank under Section 35(3) of the BNSS and directed them to follow the guidelines prescribed by the Supreme Court in Arnesh Kumar. With this direction, the Court granted protection from arrest to Krishank and concluded the hearing.