Hyderabad, June 14, 2025: The arrest of senior journalist and Sakshi TV anchor Kommineni Srinivasa Rao on June 9 has ignited a fierce debate in Andhra Pradesh, exposing deep fault lines in the state’s polarized political and media landscape. The detention, linked to a controversial Sakshi TV debate where a guest, V.V.R. Krishnam Raju, made derogatory remarks about women from the Amaravati region, has drawn sharp reactions from both the ruling Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and the opposition YSR Congress Party (YSRCP).
The controversy stems from a televised discussion where Krishnam Raju called Amaravati the “capital of prostitutes” and “AIDS capital.” Kommineni’s failure to intervene prompted a complaint by State Madiga Corporation Director Khambampati Sirisha, leading to an FIR against him, Krishnam Raju, and Sakshi TV’s management. A Guntur court remanded Kommineni to 14 days of judicial custody, though he was later granted bail by the Supreme Court. Chief Minister N. Chandrababu Naidu condemned the remarks as an affront to women and journalistic ethics, vowing strict action. The Andhra Pradesh Women’s Commission demanded an apology from Sakshi TV, amplifying public outrage.
However, YSRCP leader Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy labeled the arrest a “political vendetta,” accusing Naidu of orchestrating a campaign to silence dissent. Jagan alleged TDP-led mobs vandalized Sakshi offices, framing the incident as an attack on free press. The YSRCP distanced itself from Krishnam Raju’s remarks, clarifying they do not reflect party views.
Kommineni’s past adds intrigue to the saga. Once a key figure at Eenadu and a rumored confidant of Naidu, he reportedly advised on critical decisions, including the assembly’s dissolution after the 2003 Alipiri naxalite attack. His shift to Sakshi TV, owned by Jagan’s family, marked a dramatic turn, with his critiques of TDP growing sharper. This history fuels TDP’s resentment, as a former ally now challenges Naidu’s narrative.
The journalistic fraternity is divided. While some decry Kommineni’s arrest as an assault on free speech, others criticize his ethical lapse during the debate. The episode underscores the fraught interplay of politics and media in Andhra Pradesh, with Kommineni’s journey from Naidu’s inner circle to opposition voice at the heart of this storm.
Kommineni Controversy Highlights Sharp Divides in Andhra Pradesh’s Media
