[BREAKING] YSRCR MP Krishnam Raju took payment from Andhra channels, in touch with Chandrababu Naidu: Andhra govt tells Supreme Court

The Andhra Pradesh government has informed the Supreme Court that there was a deliberate attempt on the part of YSR Congress MP Kanumuri Raghurama Krishnam Raju and TV channels TV5 and ABN Andhrajyothi with members of the Telugu Desam Party to excite disaffection towards the State government..The counter affidavit filed by the State government further alleged that money was exchanged between MP Raju and the TV channels "in furtherance of the conspiracy.""In fact, on one instance, an amount of One Million Euros appears to have been transferred by Chairman of TV5 to RRKR," reads the affidavit..It was further alleged that Raju had also, as quid pro quo, used his office to benefit various individuals associated with the news channels..The YS Jaganmohan Reddy led government has stated that while freedom of speech is sacrosanct and the press has an essential role in a democracy, it "cannot be permitted to spread hatred and create disaffection against the Government.""Media organizations are trustees of the public who must use their platforms in the interests of public and not otherwise," reads the reply..The Supreme Court had earlier said that "it is time to define the limits of sedition" even as it protected two Telugu channels from any coercive action by the YS Jaganmohan Reddy-led Andhra government for their reportage on the COVID-19 pandemic in the State..[Free Press] "Section 124A on sedition needs interpretation:" Supreme Court protects Andhra news channels TV5, ABN from coercive action.The Bench headed by Justice DY Chandrachud had issued notice to the Andhra government in the plea and had directed that no coercive action be taken against the two TV channels..Both channels had urged the Supreme Court to initiate contempt proceedings against the senior officials of the Andhra government for violating an April 30 order of the Supreme Court to "immediately cease any direct and indirect threats of prosecution and arrest to citizens, who air their grievances.".TV5 said it had aired critical remarks made by the ruling YSR Congress party MP K Raghurama Krishnam Raju about the State's handling of the COVID-19 crisis. This has irked the State government. Raju was granted bail by the apex court in the sedition case filed against him..In its reply filed before the Supreme Court, the Andhra Pradesh government has stated that all speeches that were made [and interviews given by Raju] were completely premeditated/coordinated and were aired only after detailed discussions between the news channels, Raju and members of the Telugu Desam Party."Such speeches also resulted in actual violence on the ground," adds the reply. ."It is clear that all the strings were being pulled by TDP and its Chief Shri Chandrababu Naidu. The timing of the Calls, the chats and the documents shared between RRKR and Shri Chandrababu Naidu as well as Shri Nara Lokesh, clearly point to a bigger conspiracy against the elected government formed by the YSRCP party," reads the reply..The reply by the State government also makes note of calls, chats and documents shared between Raju, the news channels and members of the Telugu Desam Party including Chandrababu Naidu."The FSL report pertains to the examination of the seized cell phone from MP Raju during the course of investigation. All the particulars and seizures including the dump of the electronic details emanating from the cellphone have been placed in the competent court," reads the reply. .The counter affidavit states that it may not be out of place to mention that the conversations between MP Raju and the news channels "reveal that after every speech of his, the media persons complimented Raju by bestowing complements such as:“Wow, You gave a nice punch”,“Lions move alone, pigs move in packs”,“Furore on Social Media on your replies’,“You have the Royal Way”,“You are boring a big hole in the party”,“Where the Lion sits, that is the throne”,“Your interview is a superhit”,“It is again super-duper hit today. YouTube stream touched 10K”.The affidavit goes on to state,"CID enquiry report revealed that MP Raju, being a Member of the Parliament, had consistently and consciously abused his authority/reach as a public person with the sole intention of creating enmity between various class of citizens and to excite disaffection towards the Government. This was done by delivering hateful speeches on social media platforms as well as media channels such as the Petitioners herein.".Andhra government has submitted that the media houses/petitioners herein were not merely doing their duty in telecasting the press conferences of MP Raju but "were also getting incentivized for the dissemination of material for political or financial gain with a clear conspiracy to create enmity between social groups and through the same, create disaffection against the Government, by inciting violence."."If the evidence thus far gathered in the present case were to be analyzed, it becomes ex facie evident that the Petitioners have actively conspired to not only incite one group of citizens against the other but also to bring to disrepute the democratically elected Government," the Andhra government claimed.