Y S Sharmila, sister of YSR Congress Party chief Y S Jagan Mohan Reddy, Monday filed a police complaint over certain online and social media posts linking her with a popular Tollywood actor, even as she accused the TDP of being behind spreading such rumours.
Condemning Sharmila's allegations, Andhra Pradesh Women Development Minister Paritala Sunitha said the TDP has nothing to do with the social media posts.
The TDP will condemn such derogatory posts not only against Sharmila but any woman, Sunitha said in a statement.
In the complaint lodged with Hyderabad Police Commissioner Anjani Kumar, Sharmila sought action against those responsible for posting objectionable material against her in social media and for spreading rumours.
The YSR congress leader alleged that the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) was behind spreading such rumours.
A case under the IT Act and IPC section 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) has been registered against unknown persons, police said.
"We have registered an FIR and taken up investigation," Additional Deputy Commissioner of Police (Cyber Crimes) KCS Raghu Vir told PTI.
Speaking to reporters, Sharmila rubbished the "false propaganda" unleashed by vested interests by linking her name to that of an actor.
The conspiracy was hatched to defame her ahead of the general elections to get political mileage, she alleged.
"I swear on my children, I never met him (actor) nor spoken to him...there is not an iota of truth," she said.
"If I do not react, my silence may lead to some unpleasant conclusions which is the reason why I lodged the complaint seeking action against those who are responsible for such libellous comments using the social media as tool," she said in the complaint.
The motive behind the rumours are meant for her character assassination, she said, adding that it was an insult to all women.
"TDP is known for spreading rumours and this is no different," she said.
"Earlier, TDP spread rumours that my father (then Chief Minister of united Andhra Pradesh late Y S Rajasekhara Reddy) was a factionist and they also spread rumours against my brother (Jagan) that he is arrogant.
They tried to defame my father and brother but they were proved wrong. And now these rumours against me also by TDP just before the 2019 elections," she said.
Asked why she preferred to lodge a complaint with Hyderabad Police and notAndhra Pradesh police and whether she did not trust the AP police, Sharmila said "I don't have belief."
Refuting the allegations, the minister alleged that the social media wing working under Jagan Mohan Reddy posted "objectionable" content on TDP women MLAs.
"You may have forgotten this. But, people haven't forgotten such posts," Sunitha said, adding the TDP never indulges in mudslinging at women.
Earlier also in June 2014, Sharmila had lodged a police complaint in Hyderabad seeking action against certain websites for allegedly spreading stories linking her with a popular film actor, following which police had then arrested some people.
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