Hyderabad: Nearly 10 months after BRS working president KT Rama Rao filed a criminal defamation petition against minister Konda Surekha over her alleged objectionable remarks linking him to the split of a Tollywood couple, the Nampally court on Thursday took cognisance of the complaint.Following this development, the court has directed Surekha to appear before it on Aug 21.KTR had filed a private complaint last year, seeking the court’s intervention to prosecute Surekha for allegedly defaming him through statements made to the media. In her remarks, she reportedly made serious accusations against KTR, which he claimed were defamatory.“The court has taken cognisance of the petition. As per procedure, the statements of witnesses concerned will now be recorded. Based on the evidence, the court will later decide whether to frame charges against the accused. The matter is still in its early stages,” said Surekha’s legal team.Prominent actor Nagarjuna had also filed a separate criminal defamation petition against Surekha, which the court had already taken cognisance of earlier.
