In a significant development, the Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police have arrested two journalists associated with Pulse News, an online media outlet, on charges of spreading defamatory and provocative content against the Telangana government and Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy.
The accused, identified as Pogadadanda Revathi (44), Managing Director of Pulse News (Purple Crow Media Inc.), and Bandi Sandhya alias Thanvi Yadav (25), a reporter with the same media house, were taken into custody under and booked under various sections of the IT Act and the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS). The police have also identified the X (Twitter) handle @NippuKodi as a suspect in the case.
Case Details
According to Hyderabad Police, the case was registered following a complaint by a 40-year-old businessman who serves as the State Secretary of the Congress Social Media Cell. The complainant alleged that an abusive video was circulated on X (Twitter) from the handle @NippuKodi on March 10, 2025. The video featured an interview on Pulse TV, in which an unidentified individual made derogatory remarks against Chief Minister Revanth Reddy, allegedly as part of a deliberate attempt to malign the state government.
Police investigations revealed that the video was actively being promoted on social media platforms, with the potential to incite divisions and disrupt public order. Based on these findings, legal action was initiated against the accused.
𝗔𝗿𝗿𝗲𝘀𝘁 𝗼𝗳 𝗧𝘄𝗼 𝗔𝗰𝗰𝘂𝘀𝗲𝗱 𝗣𝗲𝗿𝘀𝗼𝗻𝘀 𝗶𝗻 𝗦𝗼𝗰𝗶𝗮𝗹 𝗠𝗲𝗱𝗶𝗮 𝗧𝗿𝗼𝗹𝗹𝗶𝗻𝗴 𝗖𝗮𝘀𝗲𝘀.
Hyderabad Cyber Crime Police apprehended two accused persons in Cr. No.527/2025 U/Sec 67 IT Act, Sec 111, 61(2), 353(2), 352 of BNS by name 1) Pogadadanda Revathi… pic.twitter.com/MNWXwVRshD
— Hyderabad City Police (@hydcitypolice) March 12, 2025
Later in the day, the Nampally Court has ordered a 14-day remand for journalists Revathi and Tanvi Yadav, extending until the 26th of this month.
Previous Cases Against the Accused
Police records indicate that journalist Revathi has a history of legal troubles:
In 2019, she was booked under Section 504 IPC and SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act at Banjara Hills PS for verbally abusing a Dalit individual during a live show.
In 2024, a case was filed under Section 505 IPC & 66D of the IT Act at LB Nagar PS for allegedly spreading false allegations against the Telangana State Power Distribution Company Limited on her social media handles.
Meanwhile, Bandi Sandhya, using her Instagram handle @thanvi_yadav_journalist, had reportedly posted multiple abusive videos targeting the Telangana government and the Chief Minister.
Police Seizure:
During the raid, the police confiscated several electronic devices from the accused, including a two laptops, two hard disks, a Pulse Media microphone with its logo, and seven CPUs.
Raid and Arrest
Reports indicate that around 12 police officers raided Revathi’s residence at approximately 4 AM on March 12 and arrested her.
The arrest was allegedly in connection with her posting a “controversial” video featuring a farmer criticizing the Congress government. Police also reportedly seized the mobile phones of both Revathi and her husband.
Political Reactions:
Arvind Dharmapuri, BJP MP from Nizamabad, speaking to media said ” There has to be freedom of the press. Realities have to be presented and should be taken to the people. If the government reacts like the previous government did by harassing the media, all this will not work…What happened to KCR will happen to the Congress government also”
BRS Working President K.T. Rama Rao denounced the arrests, calling them an attack on press freedom. He stated, “Arresting journalists for posting a video of a farmer speaking about the hardships he is facing under the Congress government is the peak of this government’s oppressive rule.”
He questioned, “Is there no media freedom left in a people’s government? Is this the constitutional governance that Rahul Gandhi talks about?”
https://x.com/KTRBRS/status/1899664043943809178
Revathi, anticipating her arrest, had earlier said in a video, “One thing is clear: Revanth Reddy wants to silence me, threaten me, and pressure my family. Let’s see what happens.”
The arrest of the two journalists just hours before the Telangana Assembly’s Budget Session has sparked widespread controversy, with opposition leaders strongly condemning the government’s actions.
The alleged video contains abusive content, though the farmer was outraged. However, showcasing such content seems to have led both sides to overstep their limits. It is deeply concerning that abusive language is becoming normalized in public discourse. While social media is already flooded with derogatory remarks from top leaders, including CM Revanth Reddy and former CM KCR, the situation has now escalated into a disturbing trend of suppressing dissent. The use of police to arrest journalists appears to be a case of both sides exploiting their authority rather than upholding their responsibilities.
