In a setback to director Ram Gopal Varma, the Andhra Pradesh High Court rejected a petition he had filed seeking the quashing of a case filed on him by the Maddipadu police in Prakasam district. The court also rejected him from protection of being arrested and issued notice to him, requesting him to seek bail if he is afraid of his detention as he had been summoned by the police already.
The controversy surrounding Varma began with his film Strategy, which generated significant attention ahead of the Andhra Pradesh Assembly elections. Varma’s social media posts targeting political leaders Chandrababu Naidu and Pawan Kalyan triggered a series of complaints, eventually leading to multiple legal cases. Although the registration of these cases was delayed initially, the arrival of the new coalition government saw an uptick in complaints from TDP activists, resulting in the cases against Varma.
One of these cases was filed in Prakasam district following a complaint from TDP leader Muttanapalli Ramalingam regarding Varma’s social media activity. The police went to Hyderabad and issued notices to Varma. He was told to appear before the police for interrogation. Scared of arrest, Varma came to the High Court to quash the case. The High Court dismissed his petition and told him to file an application for bail if he apprehended detention by the police.
The police have instructed Varma to appear for questioning on Tuesday, and it remains uncertain whether he will comply. If Varma does not appear, it is possible that the police may arrest him. The High Court has directed that any further developments in the case be addressed with the police.
This ongoing legal battle has intensified public attention, particularly in the context of political debates sparked by Varma’s film and social media posts. Fans and critics alike are now closely watching the next steps in this case.