Published Jul 07, 2026 | 11:55 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 07, 2026 | 1:30 PM
Prashna Raavan.
Synopsis: The remand report by the Gannavaram police in the case against YouTuber Prashna Raavan said that his videos were aimed at destabilising elected governments and urged the common public to support the banned CPI(Maoist). The police claimed that he glorified individuals who took up arms against the state.
The remand report by the Gannavaram police in Andhra Pradesh in the case against YouTuber Prashna Raavan said that his videos were aimed at destabilising elected governments and urged the common public to support the banned CPI(Maoist).
Justifying multiple arrests of Raavan, the police said the specific case is different from other cases, and hence it is not bound by the principle laid down by the Supreme Court in TT Antony v State of Kerala (2001).
In that case, the Supreme Court established the legal principle that there can be no second FIR and no fresh investigation on the same incident or the same cognizable offence.
Citing State of Rajasthan vs Surendra Singh Rathore, the police said that his statements in videos posted online cannot be considered a solitary event, but a continuous pattern of creating and inciting communal and religious differences, culminating in a clear intent to wage war against the state.
Also Read: Prashna Raavan’s wife speaks out after YouTuber’s arrest
The police claimed that Raavan, whose social media content has a big impact on the public, had been promoting the ideology of the CPI(Maoist). They claimed that he glorified individuals who took up arms against the state.
The report said that Raavan glorified deceased CPI(Maoist) leader Madvi Hidma, despite knowing that the organisation caused the deaths of numerous security personnel and civilians.
Police claimed that he attempted to immortalise people who participated in violent uprisings against India and encouraged people to be attracted to such ideologies.
They added that his words, saying that people like Hidma and Keshava Rao will be reborn, reflected his inclination towards the ideology and a clear and deliberate attempt to advocate the ideology of the organisation. The police added that such statements are unlawful as defined by the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).
Police said Raavan’s malicious motivation is evidenced by his officially changing his name to “Raavan” — a figure widely considered the embodiment of evil in Hindu Dharma. They claimed he deliberately chose the name to provoke and outrage the religious sentiments of the Hindu community.
In the report, police claimed that his videos were a deliberate attempt to incite riots and dissatisfaction. Noting the positive response to his videos, the police claimed that his actions had caused multiple incidents of law and order violations across Andhra Pradesh.
The remand report also claimed that he had made derogatory remarks against Hindu deities, Hindu epics and Sanatana Dharma and added that such content is likely to promote religious enmity, create communal disharmony and incite the public.
Seeking his judicial custody, the police said Raavan had been non-cooperative during the inquiry process and may tamper with the evidence and try to influence the complainant if he is released on bail.
They added that there is prima facie evidence that his actions are chargeable under Sections 147, 148, 152, 192, 196, 197(1)(d), 353(1)(b) of the Bharatiya Nyay Sanhita (BNS) and Sections 13 and 39 of UAPA.
According to the police, the complainant is a director of Andhra Pradesh Roads Development Corporation and Jana Sena Party president in Gannavaram, who is accustomed to watching political speeches and public address meetings on social media platforms.
They said that he watched a video on 28 June of a Dalit Christian meeting in Eluru oraganised by Jada Sravan Kumar conducted a Dalit Christian meeting at Eluru, he saw Raavan making highly derogatory, abusive, and unparliamentary remarks against constitutional authorities holding official positions in Andhra Pradesh.
The police said the comments made by him in the Public meeting were widely circulated and propagated by him through various social media platforms and electronic media, and that the language used by him has caused severe anger and outrage among the public.
The complainant claimed he watched several other videos on his social media channels and noticed the accused was systematically and widely disseminating, through his social media channels, inflammatory public speeches, selectively edited and distorted information relating to socially sensitive issues, in the form of audio-visual publications concerning various socio-political matters, with the intent to incite the public.
He claimed that the contents were of a serious nature and warranted immediate investigation by the law enforcement authorities.
Also Read: The charges Andhra Police have invoked against YouTuber Prashna Raavan
The Deputy Superintendent of Police in the Krishna District said that soon after a complaint was received on 4 July at the Gannavaram Police Station, he took up the investigation in the case, considering its serious nature.
“As I received information that the accused is moving in Anakapalle district and he may abscond in all probable circumstances and that he is required for further interrogation and to be taken into custody as the case is grave in nature,” he said in the remand report.
“I explained the same to the Superintendent of Police, Krishna and requested that the SP, Anakapalli Dist., organise vehicle checking on important routes and apprehend the accused in this case if found. Upon the request of the SP, Krishna and a requisition given, the SP, Ankapalli District, organised vehicle checking with their staff,” he added.
The police said that during the vehicle checking conducted by the Ankapalli District Police at Vempadu Toll Plaza, Circle Inspector L Rama Krishna apprehended Raavan at around 7 pm on 4 July based on his recent photographs available in the media.
The report added that he was handed over to the officials at Gannavaram Police Station at around 12 am on 5 July, and a medical examination was conducted.
