8 Telugu YouTube channels booked by Hyderabad cops for harassing public personalities

Around 20 cases have been booked by the Hyderabad police against owners of eight YouTube channels for objectionable, defamatory and insulting content. This includes morphed videos of a few public representatives, a police official said on Wednesday, March 29, 2023.  The cybercrime wing of the police have traced eight persons and have issued them notices under 41 (A) of the Criminal Procedure Code, directing them to appear before the police.

Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Cyber Crimes Sneha Mehra, told reporters that about 20 cases have been registered against the owners/uploaders of various channels that brand themselves as ‘troll channels’, and are spreading objectionable and defamatory content.

Those who have been issued notices are Attada Srinivasa Rao of TrollerKurradu (@trollerkurradu4308) from Vizianagaram), Sirasani Manikanta of Massabbayi (@MrMassabbayi) from Kadapa, Baddanj Sravan of Yankamma Tolls from Nizamabad, Motam Srinu of Telugu Trolls New from Warangal, Peraka Nagavenkata Jyothi Kiran of Chimtu Trolls from Krishna, Banthipuvvu Trolls Vadluri Naveen of Team of Trolling from Jagityal, Bolli Chandrashekar of Chandu Trolls from Karimnagar, and Billa Srikanth of Chevilo Puvvu from Kadapa. Many of these accounts have a following of thousands to lakhs of subscribers on YouTube.

Speaking to the media, the DCP said, “Most of these are young men between 20-30 years of age who are either studying or have dropped out.”

The police officer observed that such content was being posted to increase subscribers and ratings, thereby earning more money. Such acts attract various penal sections under IPC and Information Technology Act, the official said.

"In the process of increasing their subscribers and garnering more likes, they are sometimes posting content which even outrages the modesty of women," she said. Police said they recently noticed such trolls targeting K Kavitha, a member of the Telangana Legislative Council and daughter of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

The police have warned all such channels and content creators to not put out content that is outrageous, abusive and indecent.

With IANS inputs