Jagan’s close aide arrested for ‘derogatory’ social media posts on CM Naidu

Tirupati: The chief public relations officer of former CM Y S Jaganmohan Reddy was arrested by Chittoor police on Wednesday morning on charges of posting ‘derogatory' social media posts on chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu. Pudi Srihari was arrested near his residence close to Tadepalli by police personnel from Chittoor district, who also confiscated his mobile phone and laptop.Srihari was reportedly arrested in connection with a case registered against him at Kuppam police station in connection with ‘derogatory' social media posts made on Naidu. Kuppam-based Vinod Kumar Murthy lodged a police complaint against the "objectionable and provocative content" on CM Naidu, which was circulated on social media platforms allegedly linked to opposition YSRCP. Srihari was booked under several sections of the BNS, including promoting disharmony and hatred in society, intentional insult intended to breach peace, circulating false information intended at public mischief, etc. Another social media activist, Girish Kumar Reddy, was also taken into custody by police in connection with the same case.YSRCP leaders, including the party's state coordinator Sajjala Ramakrishna Reddy and Tirupati MP M Gurumoorthy, strongly condemned the "illegal arrest" of Srihari, who is also the YSRCP's general secretary (media relations). "The ruling TDP is making a mockery of democracy by enforcing the ‘Red Book constitution' to book illegal and false cases on YSRCP functionaries and leaders. The arrest of Pudi Srihari is yet another classic example of how desperate the ruling TDP is to divert the people's attention from former chief minister YS Jagan Mohan Reddy's visit to the Juvvaladinne fishing harbour in Nellore district today. YSRCP will not be allowed to be bullied by such false cases and illegal arrests and will knock on the doors of the judiciary to fight for justice and to expose the undemocratic practices of the ruling coalition," Gurumoorthy asserted.