Amaravati, Feb 27: Yuvajana Sramika Rythu Congress Party (YSRCP) chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy has strongly condemned the arrest of veteran Telugu actor, writer, and director Posani Krishna Murali. The 66-year-old was taken into custody in Hyderabad on Wednesday night by Annamayya district police from Andhra Pradesh under various sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS).
Expressing solidarity, Reddy spoke to Posani’s wife, Kusuma Latha, over the phone and assured her of the party’s unwavering support. In a recorded conversation shared on YSRCP’s official ‘X’ account, he said, "All of us are with you. I have spoken to Sudhakar Reddy and others. Do not be disheartened. We are all here. God is watching. This atrocious rule (NDA government) will not last. Be bold; we stand by you."
Legal Assistance and Party's Strong Criticism
Further, the former chief minister promised legal aid for Posani, stating that senior lawyers from YSRCP had already been assigned to handle the case. Several YSRCP leaders, including Seediri Appalaraju, Kurasala Kannababu, Ambati Rambabu, Merugu Nagarjuna, Kakani Govardhan, and party general secretary G Srikant Reddy, slammed the arrest, calling it an attack on democracy and a blatant act of political vendetta by Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu.They criticized the ruling TDP-led NDA government, alleging that "police are being misused to suppress dissent and disrupt the rule of law." Warning of public backlash, the opposition leaders urged law enforcement officers not to become "political tools" in what they termed an undemocratic clampdown.
Controversy Surrounding Arrest Procedures
Meanwhile, Posani’s wife, Kusuma Latha, raised concerns over the irregularities in the arrest procedure. She revealed that the arrest notice issued to her husband mentioned February 27 (Thursday) as the date of arrest, yet he was forcibly taken on February 26 (Wednesday) at 8:45 pm from their Hyderabad residence.She alleged that police ignored her pleas to delay the arrest for medical reasons, stating, "Though I requested them to wait until after his MRI test as he is unwell and under medication, they refused and took him away immediately." Further, she claimed that the police did not cite any reason for the arrest and seized her and her husband’s mobile phones. Their son also reportedly resisted an attempt by the police to take his phone.
Political Context
Posani Krishna Murali, known for his outspoken political views, was a close associate of YS Jagan Mohan Reddy and previously served as the Chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Film, TV, and Theatre Development Corporation (APFTTDC) during the YSRCP regime. His arrest follows the recent detention of former Gannavaram MLA and YSRCP leader Vallabhaneni Vamsi, further escalating political tensions in the state.The incident has sparked widespread debate, with YSRCP leaders calling it an attempt to silence opposition voices and alleging a pattern of political retribution under the current administration.