Vijayawada: Filmmaker Ram Gopal Varma (RGV) has dismissed allegations of absconding and claimed he was in Hyderabad, even as police search teams are deployed across Telangana, Tamil Nadu, and Kerala. The search stems from his failure to appear for questioning in a defamation case filed at Maddipadu police station in Prakasam district of Andhra Pradesh.
The police accuse RGV of sharing defamatory and morphed images targeting Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders, including Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Nara Lokesh, and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan, during the promotion of his film Vyooham. RGV responded with a detailed social media post titled “My take on my case – RGV”, asserting that the controversy is “overblown” and accusing the police.
The complaint, filed by Maddipadu mandal TDP general secretary Muttanapalli Ramalingam, alleged that RGV’s social media posts, shared over a year ago, were defamatory. RGV argued that these posts, described as political satire memes, are protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression. He questioned the sudden filing of multiple cases across Andhra Pradesh, calling it “a larger conspiracy to harass.” “Four cases were filed in four districts within days, with media reporting five more – clearly a coordinated effort,” RGV alleged.
RGV also took a dig at police for rejecting his request to appear digitally, pointing to the govt’s push for digitisation under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). His lawyer highlighted that hybrid-mode investigations are allowed for minor offences and accused the police of wasting resources on what they termed “a frivolous case.”
Prakasam SP AR Damodar maintained that RGV was given ample opportunity to cooperate but failed to comply. “Despite repeated notices, he did not show up. His non-cooperation leaves us no choice but to take legal action,” the SP said. RGV is lying about his whereabouts, and police are still searching, said the SP.
Police intensified their search efforts after RGV skipped questioning on November 25, despite a four-day extension. Surveillance has been extended to his Hyderabad residence and two farmhouses in Shamshabad and Shadnagar near Hyderabad. RGV dismissed the charges under the BNSS and IT Act as baseless, questioning their applicability. He explained that the memes were promotional material for Vyooham, which already passed the censor board and released months ago. “The alleged memes are obvious satire, not obscene or defamatory. Political figures are subject to public scrutiny and satire—it’s part of democracy,” he wrote.
Contrary to reports of being “on the run,” RGV claimed he was at his Hyderabad office. “The police never entered my office, nor mentioned an arrest. RGV alleged that the case highlights a misuse of police resources. “Are police teams hunting for me more urgently than murderers and terrorists?” he asked, adding that he filed an anticipatory bail petition due to the “suspicious nature” of the coordinated cases.
RGV reaffirmed his respect for the law but demanded due process. “I will cooperate fully but will also exercise my constitutional rights,” he said.
The police accuse RGV of sharing defamatory and morphed images targeting Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leaders, including Andhra Pradesh chief minister Nara Chandrababu Naidu, Nara Lokesh, and Jana Sena Party president Pawan Kalyan, during the promotion of his film Vyooham. RGV responded with a detailed social media post titled “My take on my case – RGV”, asserting that the controversy is “overblown” and accusing the police.
The complaint, filed by Maddipadu mandal TDP general secretary Muttanapalli Ramalingam, alleged that RGV’s social media posts, shared over a year ago, were defamatory. RGV argued that these posts, described as political satire memes, are protected under Article 19(1)(a) of the Indian Constitution, which guarantees freedom of expression. He questioned the sudden filing of multiple cases across Andhra Pradesh, calling it “a larger conspiracy to harass.” “Four cases were filed in four districts within days, with media reporting five more – clearly a coordinated effort,” RGV alleged.
RGV also took a dig at police for rejecting his request to appear digitally, pointing to the govt’s push for digitisation under the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). His lawyer highlighted that hybrid-mode investigations are allowed for minor offences and accused the police of wasting resources on what they termed “a frivolous case.”
Prakasam SP AR Damodar maintained that RGV was given ample opportunity to cooperate but failed to comply. “Despite repeated notices, he did not show up. His non-cooperation leaves us no choice but to take legal action,” the SP said. RGV is lying about his whereabouts, and police are still searching, said the SP.
Police intensified their search efforts after RGV skipped questioning on November 25, despite a four-day extension. Surveillance has been extended to his Hyderabad residence and two farmhouses in Shamshabad and Shadnagar near Hyderabad. RGV dismissed the charges under the BNSS and IT Act as baseless, questioning their applicability. He explained that the memes were promotional material for Vyooham, which already passed the censor board and released months ago. “The alleged memes are obvious satire, not obscene or defamatory. Political figures are subject to public scrutiny and satire—it’s part of democracy,” he wrote.
Contrary to reports of being “on the run,” RGV claimed he was at his Hyderabad office. “The police never entered my office, nor mentioned an arrest. RGV alleged that the case highlights a misuse of police resources. “Are police teams hunting for me more urgently than murderers and terrorists?” he asked, adding that he filed an anticipatory bail petition due to the “suspicious nature” of the coordinated cases.
RGV reaffirmed his respect for the law but demanded due process. “I will cooperate fully but will also exercise my constitutional rights,” he said.
