NTV input editor Donthu Ramesh was taken into custody at Hyderabad airport. Reporters Paripurna Chari and Sudheer were also taken into custody by the police.
Published Jan 14, 2026 | 2:17 PM ⚊ Updated Jan 14, 2026 | 2:17 PM
NTV.
Synopsis: The Telangana Police detained three journalists of the Telugu news channel NTV in connection with a controversial gossip report aired by the channel involving a woman IAS officer and a state minister. Opposition parties slammed the detention and said the Telangana government is imposing Emergency-like situation in the state.
The Telangana Police detained three journalists of the Telugu news channel NTV late on Tuesday, 13 January, in connection with a controversial gossip report aired by the channel involving a woman IAS officer and a state minister.
NTV input editor Donthu Ramesh was taken into custody at Hyderabad airport. Reporters Paripurna Chari and Sudheer were also taken into custody by the police.
Sources said the three journalists are likely to be produced before a magistrate on Wednesday.
The detentions follow the Telangana government’s move to take action against NTV over the broadcast.
Five days after the programme went on air, the government constituted a Special Investigation Team (SIT) under the leadership of VC Sajjanar, Commissioner of Police, Hyderabad City.
On Tuesday evening, the NTV management issued an apology after consultations with legal advisers, leading many to believe the matter had de-escalated.
However, the late-night detentions triggered sharp political reactions.
BRS Working President KT Rama Rao slammed the Congress government over the arrests.
“I strongly condemn the arrest of three journalists on a festival day. The Congress rule in Telangana is reminiscent of the Emergency days,” he said.
“It is unfortunate that the Telangana DGP is treating journalists like criminals. You could have issued them notices and summoned them for questioning. But barging into journalists’ homes in the middle of the night is definitely an overreach,” he added.
Rama Rao (KTR) also demanded the immediate release of the arrested journalists.
“None of the sections are non-bailable, so why did the Telangana police decide to terrorise journalists and their families with midnight arrests? I urge the Telangana DGP to follow due legal process and not become a party to the dirty politics of the Congress party and its incompetent leadership,” he said.
KTR also condemned Rahul Gandhi’s stance on this issue.
I hope you are noticing how your Mohabbat Ki Dukaan (Shop of Love) branch in Telangana is trampling upon the constitutional rights of citizens. Last night, three journalists were abducted by the state police. The police broke down the doors of the journalists’ homes,” he said.
“This is a case with only bailable sections; the police could have simply issued a notice under BNSS Section 35. This kind of suppression of the media and digital media has now become characteristic of your colleague Revanth Reddy’s rule in Telangana!” he added.
Former minister and senior BRS leader T Harish Rao condemned the arrests, calling them vindictive and undemocratic.
He demanded the immediate release of the journalists and accused the Congress government of harassing the media instead of addressing governance failures.
“This is a direct assault on democratic values and the self-respect of Telangana’s media,” Harish Rao said, questioning the use of SITs and late-night police action against journalists. He said he also spoke to Shivdhar Reddy, seeking an explanation for the urgency of the midnight detentions and asking why notices were not issued instead of arrests, which caused distress to family members.
Drawing parallels with the Emergency era, Harish Rao accused Chief Minister Revanth Reddy of following the footsteps of Indira Gandhi, alleging an attempt to silence critics.
The BJP also condemned the detentions. Telangana BJP President N Ramchander Rao said the arrests reflected an “Emergency mindset” and asserted that the party stood firmly for press freedom and democratic values.
The police have also not released any official statement on the detentions or the charges being pursued.
(With inputs from Sumit Jha.)
