A Nampally court in Hyderabad on Friday, 18 September rejected the remand of Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) social media convenor Manne Krishank, hours after police broke open the iron grill of his locked residence and arrested him over a social media post. The court cited guidelines laid down by the Supreme Court as the basis for refusing judicial custody.

The Dramatic Arrest

A large contingent of police officers had surrounded Krishank's residence since early morning, repeatedly requesting him to step out. When he refused, officers reportedly broke open the lock on the iron grill gate to gain entry and detain him. Krishank said police arrived at his home at 5 am, and his 7-year-old child, who had an exam that day, could not leave because of the raid. 'Am I some criminal? Am I trying to escape anywhere?' he said after his arrest, questioning why a large police force was deployed against him for a tweet.

What the Post Was About

Krishank was booked in connection with a social media post about an incident on 14 September, in which the personal assistant and public relations officers of BRS Working President K. T. Rama Rao were allegedly attacked inside Saifabad Police Station. His post reportedly asked who had entered the police station wearing masks. He said the case was part of what he described as a pattern of 'illegal cases' filed against him, claiming he had already been jailed twice.

BRS Condemns Arrest, Targets Rahul Gandhi

K. T. Rama Rao condemned the manner of the arrest in a post on X, directly addressing Congress leader Rahul Gandhi. 'You carry a copy of the Constitution and preach sermons. You claim your politics is about 'Mohabbat Ki Dukaan'. You talk about free speech. But your government in Telangana is acting in exactly the opposite manner,' Rama Rao wrote. He added that Krishank's daughter was left 'crying inconsolably' as police 'created chaos' inside the home.

Rama Rao further said: 'Despite clear orders from the Hon'ble Supreme Court and High Court against making arrests over social media posts, your Revanth government in Telangana is murdering democracy and flouting all democratic principles. Is questioning the Congress government a sin? Telangana is demanding answers, Mr Rahul Gandhi.'

Court Cites Supreme Court Guidelines

On the remand petition filed by the police, the Nampally court rejected the request, explicitly invoking Supreme Court guidelines on arrests over social media posts. The rejection effectively amounts to a judicial rebuke of the police action, and aligns with a broader constitutional framework that courts have repeatedly affirmed — that social media criticism of the government does not, by itself, justify detention. This is not the first time Telangana police have faced scrutiny over such arrests; critics argue that high-profile opposition figures have faced disproportionate enforcement action since the Indian National Congress (INC) came to power in the state.

Political Fallout

The episode has sharpened the confrontation between the ruling Congress government in Telangana and the BRS, which governed the state until late 2023. Krishank alleged the cases against him were retaliation for his criticism of Chief Minister Revanth Reddy and his brother's alleged shell company. The incident is likely to intensify scrutiny of law enforcement practices in the state and reignite debate over free speech protections for opposition voices. All eyes are now on whether the Telangana government responds to the court's rejection or escalates the legal proceedings.