Minister Konda Surekha's X post said she had no intention to hurt Nagarjuna or his family. Expressing regret over "any unintended impression", the minister said she was withdrawing the controversial statement.
Published Nov 12, 2025 | 2:29 PM ⚊ Updated Nov 12, 2025 | 2:29 PM
Akkineni Nagarjuna (centre) found his family caught in a political crossfire between Minister Konda Surekha (left) and BRS leader KT Rama Rao in October 2024, prompting the actor to take legal recourse.
Synopsis: The apology, posted on X shortly after midnight, came amid an ongoing criminal defamation case filed by Nagarjuna against the minister. During a heated political war of words on 2 October 2024, Surekha had reportedly linked the high-profile divorce of Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu to KT Rama Rao.
In a surprise late-night development, Telangana’s Minister for Forests, Environment, and Endowments Konda Surekha, on Tuesday, 11 November, issued a public apology to veteran actor Akkineni Nagarjuna, retracting the remarks she had made a year ago.
The apology, posted on X shortly after midnight, came amid an ongoing criminal defamation case filed by Nagarjuna against the minister. The case followed Surekh’s comments during a political spat with former minister and BRS national president KT Rama Rao (KTR), which inadvertently dragged in the Akkineni family and actor Samantha Ruth Prabhu.
Surekha’s brief but carefully worded post expressed regret over her comment. She also formally withdrew her earlier statements.
Tagging Nagarjuna’s official X handle, she wrote:
“I would wish to clarify that the statement I had made in relation to @iamnagarjuna Garu was not intended to hurt Nagarjuna Garu or his family members.
I had no intention of hurting or defaming Akkineni Nagarjuna Garu or his family members.
I regret any unintended impression given in my statements in relation to them and withdraw the same.”
A senior Congress leader and MLA from Warangal East, Surekha, did not further clarify the reason for a second apology to the Akkinenis. The first was issued a day after the controversy in 2024 — she had then retracted the remarks about Samantha and the Akkinenis, but stood by the criticism of her political rivals.
During a heated political war of words on 2 October 2024, Surekha reportedly linked the high-profile divorce of Naga Chaitanya and Samantha to Rama Rao.
Samantha promptly responded on social media, asserting that her divorce was a mutual and amicable decision and urged political leaders to respect her privacy. The Akkineni family, known for its discretion in public life, condemned the remarks.
Nagarjuna denounced the “use of celebrities’ personal lives as political ammunition” and called for maturity in public discourse.
Surekha’s comments sparked widespread outrage across the Telugu film industry. Prominent figures, including Chiranjeevi, Jr NTR, Nani, and Amala Akkineni, publicly criticised the remarks, terming them “irresponsible” and “defamatory.”
Rama Rao demanded an unconditional apology and retraction.
More than a year later, Surekha’s renewed apology appeared closely linked to the ongoing legal proceedings. Nagarjuna filed a criminal defamation complaint against her under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) in a Hyderabad city court soon after the 2024 incident.
In his petition, the actor argued that the minister’s comments had irreparably harmed his family’s reputation built over decades through cinema and philanthropy, including Annapurna Studios and several social welfare initiatives. He described her remarks as “baseless and malicious,” and sought damages and a public apology.
Rama Rao later filed a separate defamation suit, adding to Surekha’s legal troubles. Court hearings have since focused on the intent and impact of her statements. Sources said the minister’s midnight apology preceded an impending court verdict, though her post was devoid of any direct reference.
Surekha has maintained that her original comments were made in defence of women and in response to what she alleged was Rama Rao’s political misogyny — and not to malign the Akkinenis. In her latest statement, she reiterated that her intent was never to harm them, but the apology appeared more as a clarification rather than an admission of guilt.
(Edited by Majnu Babu)
