Chandrababu Naidu tapes: Police slap notice on pro-TRS channel

 In a new turn in the TDP-TRS spat spawned by "cash-for-vote" row, the Andhra Pradesh Police issued notice to T News channel considered closed to TRS in power in Telangana for airing an audio tape of purported conversation between Chief Minister Chandrababu Naidu and nominated MLA Elvys Stephenson.

The move against the channel sparked strong protests from media fraternity today who saw it as an "undemocratic and unconstitutional" step by the Chandrababu Naidu Government. The notice, served last night, asked the channel to reply within three days as to why appropriate legal action should not be initiated against it, contending the audio tape it aired was "defamatory".

"Since the programme telecast on June 7 at around 8.30 pm contained material disturbing the public tranquillity, affecting the maintenance of law and order as it in violation of Section 5 and Rule 6 of cable TV news network Act, as the programme is defamatory deliberate, false with suggestive innuendos and half-truths," the notice read. The audio tape of pertained purported talk between Naidu and the nominated MLA relating to alleged attempts by TDP to woo the latter's support for the party nominee in Telengana Legislative Council polls.

Telangana TDP MLA Revanth Reddy and two others were arrested and remanded for allegedly trying to bribe the nominated MLA. The airing of the audio tape has led to a slugfest between the ruling parties in Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and TDP workers lodged a plethora of FIRs against TRS and its supremo and Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrasekhara Rao.

Reacting to the notice slapped on the channel, its CEO Narayan Reddy said police had no right to issue such a notice without verifying authenticity of the footage scientifically. "We are going to lodge a complaint with the President, Prime Minister, Governor and Press Council of India. Issuing the notice itself is wrong. AP Police has not right to issue such notice. They cannot curtail the freedom of press," Reddy told PTI.

Coming out strongly against the notice issued to the channel, Telangana Union of Working Journalists said it was "undemocratic, unconstitutional and disrespectful approach of AP CM". Meanwhile, ticking the two regional parties, BJP leader and Union Minister Venkaiah Naidu asked them to keep restraint and focus on development.