Published Jul 13, 2026 | 10:28 AM ⚊ Updated Jul 13, 2026 | 11:32 AM
Telangana Police arrested YSRCP spokesperson Nagarjuna Yadav from his residence in Guntur. (CCTV visual screengrab)
Synopsis: A two-year-old television debate has led to the arrest of YSRCP spokesperson Nagarjuna Yadav after the Telangana Police booked him over his remarks against Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy. The case originates from a complaint filed by Kailash Sajjan at Begum Bazar Police Station on 10 July.
A two-year-old television debate has led to the arrest of YSRCP spokesperson Nagarjuna Yadav after the Telangana Police booked him over his remarks against Telangana Chief Minister A Revanth Reddy.
The Telangana Police detained Yadav from his residence in Guntur, Andhra Pradesh. YSRCP leaders alleged that plainclothes Telangana Police personnel took him into custody without serving prior notice.
The case originates from a complaint filed by Kailash Sajjan, State Secretary of the Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee’s Social Media Department, at Begum Bazar Police Station on 10 July.
In his complaint, Sajjan said he came across a Facebook video uploaded by the page “Mega News” featuring a Sakshi TV debate between anchor Kommineni Srinivas Rao (KSR) and Nagarjuna Yadav.
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According to the complaint, Yadav repeatedly referred to Revanth Reddy as a “Zomato Swiggy Delivery Boy”. It further states that he said in Telugu, “bharatdeshamlo atyantha darunamaina sangatanallo aa delivery boy mukhyamantri ayyadu tappa…”, which the complaint translates as saying that “in the worst circumstances in India a ‘delivery boy’ has become Chief Minister.”
The complaint also said Yadav claimed that the chief minister “does not even know the full forms of GO or GO Miscellaneous.” It further alleged that he apologised to Swiggy and Zomato delivery workers, saying he had reduced their stature by comparing them with the Chief Minister.
Sajjan also sought action against Sakshi TV anchor Kommineni Srinivas Rao. The complaint states that the anchor could have stopped the person from making such comments, but instead “deliberately kept quiet for quite a while” while the remarks continued. It also names the handlers of the Facebook page that uploaded the debate.
The complaint said the remarks “were intended to dishonour the constitutionally elected chief minister and the dignity of the office he holds” and alleged that continued circulation of the video on social media “caused damage to public order and dignity of the office of CM”.
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Based on the complaint, Begumbazar Police registered an FIR.
“Sri Nagarjuna Yadav deliberately and repeatedly used derogatory language against the Hon’ble Chief Minister of Telangana… referred to the Hon’ble CM multiple times as ‘Zomato Swiggy Delivery Boy’… The complainant requested registration of an FIR against Sri Nagarjuna Yadav, anchor KSR of Sakshi channel, handlers of the Facebook page and admins/operators of Sakshi Channel. I, N. Srishailam, Sub-Inspector of Police, registered a case in Crime No. 175/2026 under Sections 192, 352, 353(1) and 353(2) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and took up the investigation,” stated the FIR.
YSRCP questioned the arrest and said it was politically motivated. The party said the comments were made during a television debate nearly two years ago and argued that Yadav criticised Revanth Reddy for acting as a messenger of the Congress high command in Delhi. During the debate, Yadav also said Revanth Reddy was “not even eligible to be a minister, let alone a Chief Minister,” and referred to the Chief Minister’s earlier remark that people in Delhi hide their footwear when he visits to seek funds.
The party further alleged that Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu used Telangana Chief Minister Revanth Reddy to target one of YSRCP’s spokespersons. It claimed that despite Yadav’s criticism of the Andhra Pradesh government, no cases had been registered against him in the state.
The arrest has triggered a political row across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, with the opposition questioning the use of criminal law over remarks made during a televised political debate. Telangana Police have not issued a detailed public statement beyond registering the FIR.
(With inputs from Sumit Jha.)
