Tensions erupted in Hyderabad’s Jubilee Hills on Saturday as Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) workers stormed the office of Mahaa News, vandalizing property and causing chaos. The attack was allegedly triggered by the channel’s coverage linking BRS working president K.T. Rama Rao (KTR) to a phone-tapping controversy.
According to reports, a mob of BRS supporters, armed with rods, knives, and stones, attacked the Mahaa News office, shattering windows, damaging vehicles, and ransacking the newsroom. The channel’s managing director, Vamsi, condemned the assault, describing it as an attack on journalistic integrity.
Mahaa News, known for its critical reporting on Telangana politics, alleged that the attackers were BRS supporters and KTR followers, angered by the channel’s coverage of the phone-tapping case involving senior BRS leaders.
Responding to the incident, KTR took to X, urging his party workers to remain calm and trust the legal process. He stated, “I request my brothers and sisters of @BRSparty to stay calm and trust the legal process.” He also condemned the media’s alleged misinformation campaign, accusing certain outlets of orchestrating a smear campaign against BRS leadership.
KTR warned of legal action against those spreading “baseless and malicious propaganda” about him and the party, emphasizing the emotional toll such reports have taken on his family.
The BRS has also issued a legal notice to Mahaa News, accusing the channel of disseminating false and defamatory content about party leader K. Chandrashekar Rao (KCR) and KTR in connection with the phone-tapping case.