Andhra police book Bengaluru techie for 'objectionable comments' against TDP MLA

This comes a week after the Andhra police arrested another critic of the TDP for 'defamatory' content on Facebook.
Andhra police book Bengaluru techie for 'objectionable comments' against TDP MLA
Andhra police book Bengaluru techie for 'objectionable comments' against TDP MLA
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In another apparent crackdown on dissenters of the Andhra government, the Visakhapatnam police picked up a Bengaluru-based software professional, Ippala Ravindra, for posting objectionable comments on Facebook.

According to reports, the police quizzed Ravindra on Wednesday after he allegedly posted some objectionable comments against Payakaraopeta MLA V Anitha. 

The Hindu reported that the police refused to confirm the arrest for a little while, and claimed that Ravindra was also allegedly not allowed to take legal assistance.

The Deccan Chronicle reported that the post in question, criticised Anitha for 'neglecting her husband', and also criticised the MLA, claiming that she was not working for her constituency.

The DC report adds that Ravindra was apprehended under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act, and not under the IT Act, as the legislator is also a Dalit.

Many people claimed that Ravindra was on the YSRCP's payroll, as his page was filled with material that supported the party and YS Jagan. However, the party denied the allegations.

This arrest comes a week after the Andhra police arrested political satirist Ravi Kiran, after the same MLA filed a complaint against a 'defamatory' post on his Facebook page.

Ravi Kiran runs a Facebook page called 'Political Punch', which has more than 1 lakh followers, and is popular among critics of the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP).

Many people have pointed out that several posts on the Facebook page 'Political Punch', were insensitive, and in bad taste.

Many of the posts also directly insult several senior TDP leaders, besides constantly attacking Andhra Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu.

However, Ravi Kiran alleged that he was being targeted by the TDP government, because he was criticising them.

Ravi Kiran was also booked under the SC/ST Act.

Last month, the Andhra police also conducted searches at YSRCP's headquarters, at Lotus Pond in Hyderabad's Banjara Hills, a day after they released Ravi Kiran, who they had detained earlier, for another defamatory post.

The police also reportedly served a notice to the party's social media wing, accusing it of hiring Ravikiran and keeping him on its payroll.

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