BRS leader T Harish Rao has filed a defamation suit in Nampally court against the B Mahesh Kumar Goud, chief of Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) for making accusations that he practiced “occult rituals”.
Advocate Harish Rao’s counsel have requested the court move upon the two Congress leaders, who are alleged guilty under Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) Section 356, to withdraw the allegations and give an open apology.
The Congress leaders have charged Harish Rao with carrying out occult rituals at the Kolluru Mookambika temple. Harish Rao has denied the allegations and filed a case against the court for the comments.
As part of the complaint, his supporters had sent in videos and other supporting documents in front of the Nampally court. The case is part of a broader political battle in Telangana in which Congress leaders have frequently lodged complaints that Harish Rao was part of tantric or occult practices. Harish Rao had also made a complaint to the National Human Rights Commission recently, which had asked for an action taken report from the Telangana Director General of Police on the issue.
The defamation cases further complicate the political tug-of-war between the BRS and ruling Congress in Telangana. As the case proceeds, the court will take into account the points that Harish Rao’s lawyers present and the charges levelled against the Congress leaders.