The Telangana IAS Officers’ Association alleged that a telecast aired by NTV insinuated that a personal relationship with a political executive was the reason for the IAS officer’s postings, thereby promoting a regressive narrative against women in public service.
Published Jan 12, 2026 | 8:11 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 12, 2026 | 8:11 PM
NTV.
Synopsis: Telangana police have registered an FIR against Telugu news channel NTV and seven digital media platforms for allegedly airing defamatory and fabricated content targeting a serving woman IAS officer. The Telangana IAS Officers’ Association filed a complaint alleging that a telecast aired on the channel insinuated a personal relationship with a political executive as the basis for the officer’s postings, which it said amounted to character assassination.
Telangana police have registered an FIR against Telugu news channel NTV and seven digital media platforms for allegedly airing defamatory and fabricated content targeting a woman IAS officer serving in the state.
The digital outlets named in the FIR are Telugu Scribe, MR Media, Prime9 Telangana, PVNEWS, Signal Times, Volga Times, Mirror TV and TNews Telugu.
The FIR was registered under Sections 75, 78, 79, 351(1) and 352(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita by the Hyderabad Central Crime Station.
The action followed a complaint from the Telangana IAS Officers’ Association, headed by senior IAS officer Jayesh Ranjan, addressed to Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar.
The association alleged that a news telecast aired by NTV on 8 January carried false, baseless and unverified allegations against a serving woman IAS officer.
The broadcast reportedly insinuated that a personal relationship with a political executive was the reason behind her official postings. It further alleged that the content misrepresented established administrative processes and amounted to character assassination.
The Telangana IAS Officers’ Association further said the telecast violated the officer’s privacy, promoted a regressive narrative against women in public service, and undermined the dignity and credibility of the civil services.
While the telecast did not name the officer, the complaint said it made oblique references to her previous postings, enabling viewers to identify her.
The association alleged that the disclosure of her posting history stripped her of anonymity and exposed her to public scrutiny, reputational harm and potential danger.
The complaint also accused the channel of using sexually coloured remarks, double-meaning expressions and insinuations that questioned the officer’s moral character and outraged her modesty.
It said the narrative focused on scandalising her personal life rather than reporting any factual administrative issue.
According to the association, the harassment continued after the telecast, with the content being circulated widely on social media platforms such as YouTube and X.
This, it said, subjected the officer to cyberstalking, online harassment and mental trauma, and caused distress across the IAS fraternity in the State.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
