In a presser that lasted less than seven minutes, Sajjanar became increasingly confrontational with the reporters present and made striking claims suggesting that the force under his command had no reason to be accountable to anyone.
Published Jan 14, 2026 | 10:31 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 14, 2026 | 10:31 PM
Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar.
Synopsis: Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar on Wednesday defended the arrest of three NTV journalists, asserting that the police were not bound to issue notices, and suggested that those summoned could be “caught and brought” from anywhere. In a confrontational press conference, he brushed aside allegations of police brutality and unlawful raids on journalists’ homes and offices, repeatedly questioning why the accused should expect due process when, in his view, they were not cooperating with the law.
“Today, many statements are being made against the police, the machinery and the government. I just saw it live as I was coming. There is excessive criticism, saying that the situation made one wonder if there was emergency. If there were an emergency, would all of you be here today? All of you would be inside…”
These were the words of Hyderabad Police Commissioner VC Sajjanar. He was speaking to reporters on Wednesday, January 14, a day after police arrested three journalists belonging to the Telugu news channel NTV in a case connected to a controversial gossip report aired by the channel.
In a presser that lasted less than seven minutes, Sajjanar became increasingly confrontational.
After allegations of high-handedness by the police in the late-night arrests drew criticism from opposition figures, reporters at the presser questioned Sajjanar on why the police had not issued even a notice of summons to the accused, and on allegations that the police broke the doors of a journalist.
The Commissioner’s response was combative. “Why should I give notice? I will call the people we require and conduct an inquiry. You come. When summoned, one should come, right? Why are they running away?” he shot back.
Edited excerpts of the presser follow.
Commissioner Sajjanar:
“The law will do its job. Definitely, as part of the law, we will proceed. We will conduct searches, arrest those required, and produce them before the law. Then the law will take care of it.”
“Damaging someone’s character or posting content without any basis against them is very painful. Definitely, the law will do its job.”
A woman reporter:
“You are talking about the dignity of women? Last night the police went to NTV Devi’s house and behaved very indecently. They also allegedly misbehaved with the wife of NTV’s CEO. Do you think this is proper policing?”
Sajjanar:
”Are they not the people we needed? If we summon them, they should come. Instead of that, today one of the reporters tried to leave, tried escaping at night. Why are they going? They booked 5.30 am flight ticket. They were leaving for Bangkok. When cooperation is required from them, they should cooperate, isn’t it? Why are they running away instead of cooperating? Why are they fleeing?”
“Why should they say they would come as required and then scoot? Where did they go? There is no trace even today. Come before the law. Face the law. Come before the officer. Cooperate with the investigation. Why are they running away?”
Woman reporter:
“Why did you break the doors of house?”
Sajjanar:
“I will bring whoever is required for interrogation. The law allows it.”
Another reporter:
“There are rules in the law for investigation. Notices have to be issued.”
Sajjanar:
“Notices? I can give notices. They must come. When they come, we will continue our investigation. Based on the evidence that emerges in the investigation, we will act accordingly.”
Second reporter:
“A notice has to be given, right? Without giving a notice…”
Sajjanar:
“There is nothing like that. There is no need to give any notice. The people we require must come. If they don’t, I will bring them. So what?”
Woman reporter:
“Can you attack their house, behave indecently with their wives, and barge into NTV anchor Devi’s house, sir?”
Sajjanar:
“Devi said she would come. She later switched off her mobile. We did not break the doors of her house. Show me that we broke the doors of her house. If someone says he or she would come and then switches off phone, is it acceptable?”
“If you are right, if you have not done anything wrong, why are you running away. Come and cooperate with the investigation. Is this how you treat a woman officer (IAS officer)? What basis do you have? How are they supposed to live?”
Woman reporter:
“An SIT has been formed. Why is it not doing the investigation.”
Sajjanar:
“SIT itself means investigation team. What difference is there between an SIT investigation and any other investigation? There is no difference at all.”
Woman reporter:
“Sir, without giving even a single notice…”
Sajjanar:
“Why should I give notice? I will call the people we require and interrogate them. When summoned, one should come, right? Why are they running away?
Where is your CEO now? He should come, right?”
Woman reporter:
“So is barging into the house right?”
Sajjanar:
“I will do it. If they try to run away, I will catch them and bring them. I will produce them before the law.”
Late on Tuesday night, NTV input editor Donthu Ramesh was taken into custody at Hyderabad airport, while reporters Paripurna Chari and Sudheer were also detained from different locations.
Police teams also raided the NTV office. According to eyewitnesses and staff members, officers entered the premises and attempted to access computer systems, including the server room.
NTV staff protested and demanded to see a search warrant, following which the police reportedly withdrew without seizing any equipment.
In a strongly worded statement, NTV described the episode as “police brutality”, alleging that officers barged into the office after pushing aside security personnel, threatened to seize servers and delete content, and conducted searches without a warrant.
Notably, just hours before the arrests, the NTV management had issued a public apology after consultations with legal advisers, leading many to believe that the issue had de-escalated.
(Edited by Dese Gowda)
