By Express News Service
HYDERABAD: Telugu film critic, actor and director Kathi Mahesh has been banned from entering Hyderabad for six months by the Telangana police, for his alleged profane comments against Hindu Gods during a TV debate recently.
Amid highly-charged atmosphere in the State capital on Monday with some groups staging protests seeking action against the film critic, DGP M Mahendar Reddy issued orders externing Mahesh from the city for the next six months under Telangana Prevention of Anti Social and Hazardous Activities Act.
Mahesh has been taken out of the city and handed over to Andhra Pradesh police, who in turn took him to his native place in Chittoor district.
Later, addressing media, the DGP said the comments made by Mahesh had posed a great threat to peace. Such comments were likely to result in serious law and order disturbances.
Keeping these developments in view, it has been decided to take stern action against any individual, or group of individuals trying to disturb peace in the city and the State. If Mahesh continues to indulge in similar activities, we would not hesitate to extern him from the State, he announced.
“The members of the broadcasting channels are requested to act with a sense of responsibility. The media channels cannot be permitted to act as platforms for nurturing and promoting divisive tendencies among various groups based on caste, community and religion leading to law and order problems,” the DGP said.
The DGP also pointed out that ‘viral websites’ were also indulging in such activities and said that action would be initiated against the outlets concerned for promoting animosity between various groups.
Warning the TV channels against repeatedly telecasting the ‘objectionable comment’, the DGP said, “A notice have been served on the management of the TV channel responsible for telecasting malicious content hurting religious sentiments, directing them to explain why the management should not be prosecuted for the offences under Section 16 and 17 of the Cable Television Networks (Regulation) Act No. 7 of 1995 for violation of the Programme Code.”
Asked whether action would be initiated against BJP MLA T Raja Singh for his rabble-rousing remarks made earlier, the DGP said they would initiate action if anyone was indulged in illegal activities.
Swamy under house arrest On Monday morning, tense situation prevailed at Jubilee Hills as police placed Swami Paripoornananda under house arrest, as he planned to undertake Dharmagraha Yatra to Yadadri by chanting ‘Sri Rama Sankeertanas’ in protest against the comments made by Mahesh.
A huge contingent of police were deployed at the residence of Swami in Jubilee Hills and prevented him from coming out of the house, till evening. The Swamy had earlier applied for permission for his Yatra to Rachakonda police.
However, the police denied permission to him.
Protests
Cops detained Bajrang Dal members for staging protests, opposing house arrest of Swamy Paripoornanda. As police denied permission for his proposed Yatra, Bajrang Dal members staged a dharna. Cops took them to Bollaram police station.
