Supreme Court orders immediate release of Kommineni Srinivasa Rao on bail

The Supreme Court on Friday sharply criticized the Andhra Pradesh government and granted bail to senior journalist Kommineni Srinivasa Rao, arrested for allegedly abetting derogatory remarks made against Amaravati women during a Sakshi TV debate he moderated. The court ordered his immediate release, slamming the state’s actions as a violation of journalistic freedom and free speech.

Impinging on journalistic rights

A bench comprising Justices Prashant Kumar Mishra and Manmohan questioned the Andhra Pradesh Police’s decision to arrest the 70-year-old journalist, emphasizing that Rao did not make the offensive comments himself.

The remarks, describing Amaravati as a “capital of prostitutes” and implying it was populated by “AIDS patients,” were made by panelist V.V.R. Krishnam Raju during the June 6, 2025, episode of KSR Live Show. “How can a case be against him when someone else made the statement?” the bench asked, rebuking the state’s counsel. The court further noted, “The petitioner himself did not make the statement, and his journalistic rights need to be protected so that his freedom of speech is also protected.”

Rao, arrested on June 9, 2025, from his Hyderabad residence and remanded to 14-day judicial custody by a Mangalagiri court, faced charges under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and BNS Section 356(2) for defamation. The Supreme Court’s ruling echoed earlier concerns raised by the Mangalagiri court, which had questioned the applicability of these charges, issuing memos to Guntur SP and Thullur DSP for clarification.

No direct comments

Senior Advocate Siddharth Dave, representing Rao, argued that the journalist had no direct involvement in the remarks, likening the case to those of other TV anchors like Navika Kumar or Rajdeep Sardesai. The state’s counsel, including Senior Advocate Siddharth Luthra, contended that Rao’s failure to intervene and alleged laughter during the debate amounted to abetting the offense. However, the bench dismissed these arguments, prioritizing Rao’s journalistic participation and ordering his release with conditions to be set by the trial court.

The ruling sparked widespread reactions

The Supreme Court’s directive also cautioned Rao to ensure no disparaging remarks are aired on his show in the future, reinforcing the balance between free speech and responsible journalism.