Senior journalist and Sakshi TV anchor Kommineni Srinivasa Rao was arrested by Andhra Pradesh police on Monday, June 9, 2025, in Hyderabad, sparking widespread debate about media freedom, journalistic ethics, and political motivations. The arrest stems from a controversial televised debate on Sakshi TV, where remarks made by political analyst VVR Krishnam Raju allegedly demeaned women from the Amaravati region, prompting public outrage and legal action.
Details of the Arrest
Kommineni, a veteran journalist and former chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Press Academy, was detained at his residence in Journalists’ Colony, Hyderabad, by a team led by Thullur Deputy Superintendent of Police Murali Krishna. He was subsequently taken to Vijayawada for further legal proceedings and is set to be produced before a court in Guntur district. The case was registered at Thullur Police Station under multiple sections, including the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and various provisions of the Indian Penal Code, such as Sections 79, 196(1), 353(2), 299, 356(2), and 67 of the IT Act, 2008.
The controversy originated from a June 6, 2025, debate on Kommineni’s show, KSR Live, where Mr. Krishnam Raju reportedly referred to Amaravati as a ‘capital of sex workers,’ citing a National AIDS Control Organisation (NACO) study claiming Andhra Pradesh has a high concentration of female sex workers. These remarks were widely condemned as offensive, particularly to women farmers who contributed land for Amaravati’s development as the state capital.
Mr. Kommineni, as the moderator, was accused of failing to intervene or endorsing the remarks, leading to complaints from various groups, including State Madiga Corporation Director Khambampati Sirisha and Amaravati-based women farmers.
Reactions
The arrest has ignited a political firestorm.
Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan condemned the remarks, with Mr. Naidu stating, ‘Our culture honors daughters and mothers. Vulgar and disgraceful remarks against them, under the guise of political discourse, are unacceptable.’
Mr. Pawan Kalyan described the comments as part of a ‘politically motivated smear campaign’ against Amaravati. Assembly Deputy Speaker K. Raghu Rama Krishna Raju also filed a complaint with the Director General of Police, calling the remarks a ‘severe breach of journalistic ethics and human decency.’
The Andhra Pradesh Women’s Commission chairperson, Rayapati Sailaja, condemned the remarks and demanded an unconditional apology from Sakshi TV’s management, further intensifying calls for action against the channel. Meanwhile, the police are still searching for Krishnam Raju, who is reportedly absconding from his Vijayawada residence.
Meanwhile, the YSR Congress Party (YSRCP), which owns Sakshi TV, dismissed the outrage as a malicious campaign orchestrated by the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP)-led coalition. YSRCP leader Pothina Mahesh argued that the remarks do not reflect the party’s views and accused the TDP of amplifying the issue to distract from public discontent over other matters, such as recent crimes in the state.
Critics of the arrest, including some journalists and political observers, have labeled it as an act of political vendetta, pointing to the lack of an arrest warrant and alleging that the TDP government is targeting Kommineni for Sakshi TV’s critical reporting on issues like the gang-rape of a Dalit girl in Sri Sathya Sai district.
Future Implications
The arrest has raised concerns about media freedom in Andhra Pradesh. Some X users and political commentators have called it an overreach by the TDP government, arguing that holding a moderator accountable for a guest’s statements sets a dangerous precedent.
Who is Kommineni Srinivasa Rao?
Kommineni, a prominent figure in Telugu journalism, began his career in Eenadu, and later held senior roles at NTV, and TV5 before joining Sakshi TV. Known for his allegiance to the YSRCP and its leader, YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, he served as chairman of the Andhra Pradesh Press Academy from November 2022 until his resignation in January 2024, citing personal reasons and bureaucratic challenges. His arrest marks a significant escalation in tensions between the YSRCP-aligned media and the TDP-led government.