TV channel office ‘attacked by BRS student wing’ in Hyderabad for airing news linking KCR to phone tapping case

Currently, the Congress government is in power in the state. Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee president Mahesh Kumar Goud has deposed before the Hyderabad police that the previous regime tapped his phone.

In the attack on the office of Mahaa News, two employees were injured, police said, and the glass façade of the building was brought down. Three vehicles parked in front of the building were also damaged. “There was an unprovoked attack on the TV office for airing political content. We are in the process of registering a case,” a Hyderabad police officer told The Indian Express.

About 25-30 people were involved in the attack. “As per preliminary investigation, we have found that the vandals attacked even inside the office, damaging property,” a senior police officer said.

Both the ruling Congress and the BJP condemned the attack and spoke in favour of press freedom in the state. Telangana BJP leader and Union Minister of State for Home Affairs Bandi Sanjay Kumar posted on X, “Strongly condemn the attack on Mahaa News by BRS goons, led by KCR’s son… This is not just an attack on a building but an attack on the freedom of press. BRS always preaches about journalism. Is this how you show it? By sending people to damage a media office…”

A TPCC statement read, “The attack on Mahaa News was arbitrary and unwarranted. The Congress government will take strict action against those who are behind the attack”.

K T Rama Rao posted on X that the BRS “does not support vandalism”, but added that those who “air fake news in the garb of journalism should not be encouraged”.