Krishnam Raju, anticipating his arrest, had been evading authorities for several days. Police teams conducted raids in Hyderabad and Vijayawada before finally tracking him down in Vizianagaram.
Published Jun 12, 2025 | 12:13 PM ⚊ Updated Jun 12, 2025 | 12:13 PM
Police arrest journalist Krishnam Raju. (Screengrab)
Synopsis: News analyst VVR Krishnam Raju was arrested on 11 June in Vizianagaram for derogatory remarks against Amaravati women during a Sakshi TV debate. His arrest follows anchor Kommineni Srinivasa Rao’s earlier detention. Public outrage has sparked statewide protests and sit-ins. Meanwhile, Raju has sought anticipatory bail, and tensions rose after a fire broke out at Sakshi’s Eluru office.
In a significant development, news analyst VVR Krishnam Raju, the prime accused (A1) in a case involving derogatory comments against women residing in the Amaravati region during a televised debate, was arrested on Wednesday, 11 June.
The arrest comes amid escalating public outrage and widespread protests across Andhra Pradesh, following his inflammatory remarks during the “KSR Live Show” on Sakshi TV on 6 June.
The show’s anchor, Kommineni Srinivasa Rao (KSR), was earlier arrested Monday, 9 June, from his residence in Hyderabad’s Journalists Colony. He was subsequently produced before a court in Mangalagiri, which remanded him to 14 days of judicial custody.
The Thullur Police in Amaravati had registered a case based on a formal complaint filed by Dalit leader Kambhampati Sirisha.
Krishnam Raju, anticipating his arrest, had been evading authorities for several days. Police teams conducted raids in Hyderabad and Vijayawada before finally tracking him down in Vizianagaram.
He was intercepted by law enforcement officials at Tagarapuvalsa while en route to another destination. Two other individuals accompanying him were also detained for questioning. Krishnam Raju is expected to be produced before a court on Thursday, 12 June.
Meanwhile, Krishnam Raju has approached the Andhra Pradesh High Court seeking anticipatory bail, citing fears of potential police misconduct during custody. However, the court is yet to hear his petition.
Since the broadcast of the contentious episode, women’s groups and civil society organisations in Amaravati and other parts of the state have been staging relentless protests, holding demonstrations, and organising dharnas, demanding stringent action not only against the two journalists but also against the management of Sakshi Channel.
Protestors also have been staging sit-ins outside Sakshi TV offices and burning copies of the newspaper in various districts.
In a separate incident in Eluru, furniture stored in a godown beneath Sakshi Newspaper’s regional office mysteriously caught fire, further intensifying tensions. The ruling YSRCP and opposition TDP have traded accusations over the incident, each blaming the other for the arson.
(Edited by Sumavarsha)
