The arrest of senior journalist and Sakshi television news anchor Kommineni Srinivasa Rao by the Andhra Pradesh police on Monday has sparked significant debate in political and media circles.
The controversy revolves around two aspects: the justification for Kommineni’s arrest and his role as a journalist in the matter.
No media outlet — except Sakshi, which is owned by YSR Congress Party chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy — has defended Kommineni for hosting the debate on Amaravati during which guest speaker Krishnam Raju made derogatory remarks about women from the region.
It was evident that Kommineni failed to intervene when Krishnam Raju made offensive statements, labeling Amaravati as a hub of sex workers and AIDS.
"Known for his intense bias against the Telugu Desam Party and Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, Kommineni appeared to provoke Krishnam Raju to escalate his slander against Amaravati women," an analyst observed.
Allowing such comments to be aired and distancing the channel from responsibility without issuing an apology is seen as both unethical and legally questionable.
"This is why no journalists’ unions or prominent media personalities have come forward in Kommineni’s support," the analyst added.
Once regarded for his seniority, neutrality, and balanced journalism, Kommineni is now accused of compromising his integrity to align with Jagan Mohan Reddy.
Analysts have also criticized Sakshi TV for failing to take accountability for the content aired on its platform.
"Instead, the channel attempted to deflect blame by disowning the guest's comments without issuing a public apology," another analyst pointed out.
Interestingly, there is now debate on social media regarding the appropriateness of Kommineni’s arrest and the serious charges filed against him.
"Kommineni himself did not make derogatory comments about women. He merely appeared to endorse Krishnam Raju’s views, which should not warrant an arrest," one analyst argued.
Kommineni has been booked under several sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including Section 79 (defamation via false propaganda), 196(1) (promoting enmity between groups), 353(2) (obstructing a public servant), 299 (culpable homicide not amounting to murder), 356(2) (outraging the modesty of a woman), and 61(1) (incitement or unlawful assembly), as well as Section 3(1)(u) of the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act (caste-based defamation). However, legal experts suggest these sections are more applicable to Krishnam Raju, not Kommineni.
The only potentially relevant charge against Kommineni could be Section 67 of the IT Act, related to the electronic transmission of obscene content.
Many analysts believe that targeting Kommineni under multiple charges is part of a broader political strategy by the Naidu government to intimidate or neutralize YSRCP-aligned media figures and possibly reopen old legal cases against Jagan Mohan Reddy.
