Ram Gopal Varma Reports to Andhra Police Over Offensive Posts
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Synopsis
Ram Gopal Varma appeared before the Ongole police in Andhra Pradesh regarding derogatory social media posts targeting political figures. He faces multiple allegations under various sections of the law, and claims a conspiracy against him, while emphasizing his commitment to freedom of speech.
Key Takeaways
- Ram Gopal Varma interrogated by police.
- Allegations stem from social media posts.
- Multiple cases filed across districts.
- Emphasizes freedom of expression.
- Cooperating with the investigation.
Amaravati, Feb 7 (NationPress) Prominent filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma visited the Ongole police station in Andhra Pradesh on Friday concerning a case involving derogatory remarks aimed at Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu, Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, and their relatives.
In compliance with a police notice, he met with the inquiry officer at the Ongole Rural Police Station.
Circle Inspector N. Srikanth Babu was conducting the interrogation of RGV, the nickname by which the director is widely known.
RGV is accused of sharing altered images of Chief Minister Naidu, his son Nara Lokesh, and the Deputy Chief Minister on the social media platform X during the period surrounding the 2024 general elections.
A formal complaint lodged by Rama Lingam, a mandal-level secretary of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP), led to the filing of a First Information Report (FIR) against RGV on November 11, 2024.
The charges against Ram Gopal Varma include sections 336 (4) (forge of electronic records to damage reputation), 353 (2) (dissemination of false information), 356 (2) (defamation), 61 (2) (criminal conspiracy), 196 (incitement of enmity), 352 (deliberate insult) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), and section 67 (distribution of obscene content in electronic form) of the Information Technology Act.
Initially, he was summoned to the station by November 19, but he failed to appear and requested an additional week through his attorney.
The police subsequently issued a renewed notice under section 35 (2) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS), instructing him to report to the police station by November 25.
However, the filmmaker again did not show up and sought intervention from the Andhra Pradesh High Court. The court granted him bail but ordered him to cooperate with the ongoing investigation.
RGV expressed that he approached the court due to the multiple cases being filed against him regarding the same matter. He hinted at a possible conspiracy against him, noting that five different cases were opened in five districts concerning a tweet he made a year prior.
The director claimed he could not recall the content of his tweet from a year ago, stating, "I am very active on Twitter. I have tweeted thousands of times and I have no knowledge of what I tweeted a year ago."
He asserted that he stands by his right to freedom of expression but acknowledged his intention to comply with the court's decisions.
