The case against them stems from a video posted on their X (formerly Twitter) account, in which a man, who was a farmer, allegedly made derogatory remarks about the Telangana Chief Minister. The complaint, filed by the chief of the Congress’ state social media unit, alleged that the video was intended to incite unrest and was part of a deliberate attempt by Pulse News to defame the CM. The police claimed that the video was shot at the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) headquarters and suspected a political conspiracy behind its release. A third individual, the user of an X account named “NippuKodi”, is also under police scrutiny and detention.

Despite the court rejecting the organised crime charge, it upheld other provisions under the Information Technology Act and the BNS related to creating and circulating false information. However, the manner in which the Telangana Police acted—conducting pre-dawn raids and arresting the journalists in a way that reeks of political vendetta—has drawn sharp criticism from various quarters.

Arrest under questionable circumstances

The Telangana Police’s handling of this case has raised serious concerns about the misuse of power. Revathi was arrested from her home at 5 AM on March 12, a move reminiscent of the authoritarian crackdowns of the Emergency era. In a video posted before her arrest, she warned, “Cops at my doorstep! They want to arrest me. They may pick me up and take me. One thing is clear: Revanth Reddy wants to put pressure on me and my family and threaten me.”

DON’T SHARE THIS VIDEO PLEASE!!!
CASES WILL BE FILED

Here is a video of my team @pulsenewsbreak speaking to an old man.
He expresses his frustration about various issues, in his own language.

NOW! The Telangana Congress is busy filing cases and Telangana police are… pic.twitter.com/gQYWhmseG5

— Revathi (@revathitweets) March 11, 2025

According to the police, the arrests were justified because the journalists’ conduct was highly provocative and could have disturbed law and order. The public prosecutor opposed their bail, arguing that the police required more time for investigation. However, Jakkula Ramesh, the lawyer representing Revathi and Thanvi, dismissed the allegations, claiming that the police had acted under political pressure. He pointed out that none of the other charges carried a punishment exceeding seven years, making the immediate arrests unwarranted and disproportionate. The court appeared to agree, striking down Section 111, ruling that it was unjustified at this stage.

Revanth Reddy’s threats against criticism and the press

What makes this case even more troubling is the response from Chief Minister Revanth Reddy himself. Days after the arrests, he lashed out at social media criticism in the Assembly, warning that strict action would be taken against those engaging in “defamatory propaganda under the guise of journalism.” He went even further, making an openly threatening remark, stating that those who crossed the line would be stripped and paraded.

His words reveal a deep hostility towards independent journalism and suggest that his government is willing to weaponise the law to silence critics. As per Hindustan Times, CM Reddy stated: “We will respond to such criminals as required. If they hide behind a facade, that veil will be removed, and they will be exposed. Don’t create a spectacle. I am also a human being… We will act strictly according to the law and will not exceed any limits.”

Such statements, coming from a sitting Chief Minister, indicate a dangerous shift towards authoritarianism, where journalists who criticise the government risk being treated as criminals.

Widespread condemnation of the arrests

The arrests have provoked a massive backlash, particularly from the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), which accused the Congress government of being intolerant of dissent. K.T. Rama Rao, former minister and senior BRS leader, compared the situation to the Emergency, calling the arrests a “blatant attack on press freedom”. In a post on X, he wrote:

“It feels like a state of Emergency has returned in Telangana… Is this the democracy you talk about, Rahul Gandhi? Arresting two women journalists in the wee hours of the morning! What is their crime? Giving voice to public opinion on the incompetent and corrupt Congress government?”

In the “Mohabbat Ki Dukaan” land where @RahulGandhi Ji’s nominated CM himself is the Abuser in Chief !! https://t.co/KpNtiSBs8L

— KTR (@KTRBRS) March 16, 2025

Other BRS leaders, including T Harish Rao and Kalvakuntla Kavitha, also condemned the Telangana government’s actions. Harish Rao questioned whether Telangana was turning into a dictatorship, stating, “Revanth Reddy’s government responds to questions with arrests.”

Beyond political figures, civil society groups and journalist organisations have also condemned the arrests. The Editors Guild of India (EGI) issued a strongly worded statement, criticising the police’s pre-dawn operation and calling it a serious attack on press freedom. Rajya Sabha MP Kapil Sibal, a former Congress leader, also denounced the move, saying:

“Arrest is not the solution. It is the result of a contagious disease called intolerance.”

Telangana

Arrests two journalists for criticising CM for spreading falsehood inciting divisions to disturb law and order

Really ?

Arrest is not the solution

It is the result of a contagious disease called :

Intolerance !

— Kapil Sibal (@KapilSibal) March 13, 2025

Police seizures and allegations of misconduct

Adding to concerns about police excesses, the Hyderabad Police raided the Pulse News office in Madhapur, seizing:

• Two laptops
• Two hard disks
• Seven CPUs
• Other digital equipment

Revathi’s lawyer alleged that the police misbehaved with the two journalists and that the judge had taken note of these police excesses. Such actions suggest that the police were not merely conducting an investigation but sending a message—a warning to other journalists to fall in line or face similar treatment.

Congress’ hypocrisy on press freedom

The Telangana Congress, which has long positioned itself as a defender of democracy and free speech, has now exposed its own hypocrisy. The same party that has often accused the BJP of suppressing journalists is now following the same playbook—using state power to silence criticism.

Congress leaders have tried to defend the police, claiming that the journalists had links with the BRS and had been spreading propaganda against the government for the past two months. However, this justification falls flat in the face of the arbitrary nature of the arrests, the timing before the Assembly session, and the pre-dawn raids—all hallmarks of a politically motivated crackdown.

Conclusion: A dangerous precedent being set in Telangana

The arrest of Revathi and Thanvi Yadav is not an isolated case; it is a frightening signal of what may become a pattern of repression under the Revanth Reddy-led Telangana government. By allowing the police to act in such a brazenly authoritarian manner, the Congress government has shown that it is willing to undermine press freedom to protect its own image.

This incident sets a dangerous precedent. If journalists can be arrested simply for sharing an opinion or amplifying public grievances, then no critical media outlet is safe. The Telangana government must be held accountable for this unjustifiable attack on press freedom, and civil society must push back against this increasingly repressive environment.

If this trend continues, Telangana risks becoming another state where journalists must operate under fear, where the government dictates what can and cannot be said, and where the basic tenets of democracy are trampled in the name of political survival.

Related:

Delhi High Court’s takedown order against Shyam Meera Singh’s video on Isha Foundation raises free speech concerns

The murder of Raghvendra Bajpai: A chilling reminder of the dangers faced by journalists in India

SC’s denial of bail to journalist Rupesh Singh once again showcases how the Court looks at bail under UAPA, with varying consistency

Indian Newspaper Day: Journalists’ Groups Demand Independent Media Commission

Baster Journalist killing: UNESCO condemned the killing of Mukesh Chandrakar 

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