Published May 24, 2026 | 5:26 PM ⚊ Updated May 24, 2026 | 5:26 PM
Prof K Nageshwar and P Muralidhar Rao.
Synopsis: Senior BJP leader P Murlidhar Rao has criticised the filing of police cases against political analyst Professor K Nageshwar over remarks made during a television debate, saying the action action “does not send the right message”. Multiple FIRs were registered after Nageshwar claimed that Jana Sena Party leaders had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking action against YSRCP chief YS Jagan Mohan Reddy, allegations the party rejected as false.
Senior BJP leader and the party’s former general secretary P Murlidhar Rao has publicly criticised the filing of police cases against senior journalist and political analyst Professor K Nageshwar by the Jana Sena Party, an ally in the ruling coalition in Andhra Pradesh, saying the action “does not send the right message” and “serves no meaningful purpose”.
“Prof. K Nageshwar is widely respected as a distinguished political analyst. The filing of a police case against him by AP Police does not send the right message. As reported, he has already withdrawn his remarks, and the Jana Sena Party leadership has also accepted it. Taking the matter further through police action serves no meaningful purpose and only raises concerns about freedom of expression,” P Murlidhar Rao said on 24 May.
Prof. @K_Nageshwar is widely respected as a distinguished political analyst. The filing of a police case against him by AP Police does not send the right message. As reported, he has already withdrawn his remarks, and the @JanaSenaParty leadership has also accepted it. Taking the…
— P Muralidhar Rao (@PMuralidharRao) May 24, 2026
The remarks came after multiple FIRs were registered against Nageshwar at Indrapalem and Sarpavaram police stations in Kakinada district and at Bandar Taluk police station in Krishna district following complaints by JSP leaders over comments he made during a political discussion on 99TV on 19 May.
During the programme, Nageshwar claimed, citing “highly placed sources”, that JSP leaders, including Pawan Kalyan and Minister Nadendla Manohar, had met Union Home Minister Amit Shah seeking action against former Chief Minister and YSRCP president YS Jagan Mohan Reddy.
He further claimed that Shah had described the BJP-TDP alliance as temporary while referring to Jagan as a “long-term friend”.
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Nadendla Manohar rejected the allegations as “completely false” and said no such discussion had taken place. The Jana Sena Party announced that it would initiate police complaints and legal proceedings against “anyone who disseminates falsehoods or levels baseless allegations against the party, its president Pawan Kalyan, or its leaders”.
Police booked the accused under Sections 192, 196, 352, 353 and 61 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, invoking charges related to provoking breach of peace, promoting enmity between groups, intentional insult, spreading false information likely to cause public unrest, and criminal conspiracy.
One FIR at Indrapalem police station was registered against Nageshwar, the editorial chief of 99TV, and the programme moderator.
A second FIR at Bandar Taluk police station was registered against A Venkat Reddy, administrator of the GreatAndhra website, for publishing Nageshwar’s remarks. A third FIR at Sarpavaram police station named Nageshwar, 99TV, moderator Kommineni Srinivasa Rao and Sakshi Media for allegedly amplifying the comments.
As criticism mounted, Nageshwar appeared on television on 21 May and withdrew his remarks unconditionally.
“Someone might have given me wrong information. I should have verified it further. Out of respect for Nadendla Manohar, and to prevent this issue from being diverted further, I am rescinding my remarks,” he said.
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The Jana Sena Party accepted the withdrawal and appealed to its workers and alliance partners to consider the matter closed. Despite this, the police cases were not withdrawn.
BRS leader Harish Rao also weighed in, saying: “Even though he has announced that he is unconditionally withdrawing the remarks he made, it is not right to file cases with a vengeful attitude and harass him. I urge the AP government to immediately withdraw these cases.”
ప్రొఫెసర్ @K_Nageshwar గారు
తాను చేసిన వ్యాఖ్యలను బేషరతుగా ఉపసంహరించుకుంటున్నట్లు ప్రకటించినప్పటికీ కక్షపూరిత ధోరణితో కేసులు నమోదు చేసి వేధించడం సరికాదు.వెంటనే ఈ కేసులను ఉపసంహరించుకోవాలని ఏపీ ప్రభుత్వాన్ని కోరుతున్నాను.@AndhraPradeshCM @APDeputyCMO
— Harish Rao Thanneeru (@BRSHarish) May 24, 2026
CPI Telangana State secretary and MLA Kunamneni Sambasiva Rao condemned the police action, saying Professor Nageshwar had spent decades analysing political, social and economic developments and should be viewed as a public intellectual.
“In a democracy, the views expressed by intellectuals, analysts and members of civil society should be countered through democratic discussion and public debate, not criminal prosecution,” he said.
The cases against Nageshwar come amid a series of recent police actions involving criticism directed at Pawan Kalyan.
Last month, Hyderabad-based stand-up comedian Anudeep Katikala was detained after Jana Sena leaders complained about jokes concerning the Deputy Chief Minister’s personal life. Another comedian, Rafiq, was also detained after satirical remarks targeting Pawan Kalyan triggered complaints from party workers.
