Congress MLA Mynampally Rohith seen arguing with news channel over landgrab allegations

Congress MLA from Medak Mynampally Rohith was seen creating a ruckus at the office of RTV, a Telugu news channel, for a report alleging that he was involved in a landgrabbing incident. Rohith was seen aggressively questioning the channel’s editor, demanding proof for their report. 

Visuals purportedly recorded outside the RTV office in Jubilee Hills on October 7 show Rohith demanding that he be allowed to enter the premises, as several police personnel stood outside the building, stopping him from entering. Rohith questioned the police presence, saying he had turned up alone accompanied only by his advocate, asking why the management was scared of him. 

He demanded that the police bring the RTV management out to meet him. He also demanded proof, and insisted that there are no cases or allegations against him. The president of RTV, Ravi Prakash, is the former CEO and founder of TV9. 

When an editor finally appeared to meet him outside the office gate, Rohith was seen seated on a chair, surrounded by police and RTV staff while asking, “I called you respectfully but you didn’t answer my call. Instead, you sent some random AI-generated images (as proof). You reported that I was involved in a landgrab case, but is there a police case against me? If not, I want the police to register a case against RTV,” Rohith was heard saying in an agitated tone. 

He also claimed that his supporters wanted to join him but he insisted on visiting the office alone. But in what seemed to be a veiled threat, he said, “If I have come this far, it won’t stop here. I stopped my supporters from joining me, but if I leave from here, I don't know what will happen.” 

He claimed that he was targeted because he was earning a good reputation as a GenZ MLA. After the RTV staff sought time till the night to take down the contested video report, Rohith said, “I will leave now but my cadres will come. It’s up to you.”

RTV has since taken down the video, and has not reacted to the incident on their channel. Jubilee Hills police said they hadn’t received any complaint from RTV over the incident, according to Siasat.com. However, Rohith was criticised by BRS supporters and others on social media for allegedly trying to intimidate the management of a news outlet. 

Rohith became a first-time MLA at the age of 26 in December 2023. His father, Mynampally Hanumanth Rao, was the former BRS MLA of Malkajgiri. Despite getting a BRS ticket to recontest in 2023, he quit the party and joined Congress as his son Rohith was not given a BRS ticket from Medak. While Rohith contested and won the Medak seat for Congress, his father lost Malkajgiri to the BRS candidate. 

Soon after Rohith was elected, a journalist named Siddireddy Srinivas Reddy alleged that the MLA had threatened him and charged towards him at the Secretariat building. He said Rohith accused him of being rude towards him during a TV news debate.