The Andhra Pradesh police have finally done what they wanted to do. On Tuesday, they arrested social media activist Inturi Ravi Kiran, who continued to post alleged defamatory content on the ruling Telugu Desam Party on his Facebook page Political Punch.
The Visakhapatnam police took Ravi Kiran into custody following a complaint from Dalit TDP legislator from Payakaraopet V Anitha alleging that he had posted derogatory posting on her in the Political Punch. After initial interrogation, the police declared that he was being arrested.
What Ravi Kiran posted on his Facebook page was heckling Anitha for putting on weight, while the state’s finances are getting slim.
He was apparently reacting to Anitha’s comments that there was a lot of development in the state after TDP came to power.
“We are seeing growth in your weight, but not anywhere in the state,” he posted.
Though Anitha lodged her complaint on April 19 itself, the police did not file any case, but warned Ravi Kiran that he could be booked under SC/ST Atrocities Act, if he did not stop posting hate comments against the TDP.
A couple of weeks ago, the police took Ravi Kiran into custody and took him to Tullur, where he was interrogated.
He was let off with a warning, but he continued to post similar content, allegedly with the support of the YSR Congress party. Now, the police did what they warned him earlier, booking him under SC/ST Act.
Ravi Kiran defended his postings. “What is wrong in saying that Anitha is putting on weight? How can it be defamatory and come under SC/ST Act violation? The TDP government is targeting me personally for taking a negative stand,” he asserted.
