A Nampally court on Saturday directed the police to register a criminal case against Minister for Endowments and Forests Konda Surekha in connection with a defamation complaint filed by BRS working president and former minister MLA K.T. Rama Rao.

After reviewing preliminary evidence submitted by the complainant, the court of the Special Judicial Magistrate of First Class observed that there is prima facie material to proceed under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and corresponding procedural provisions under the BNS Sections 222 read with 223. The court instructed that a criminal case (CC) be registered and a notice be served to the accused on or before August 21, 2025.

The court concurred with the arguments of Mr. KT Rama Rao’s counsel, Advocate Siddharth Pogula, who stated that Minister Konda Surekha made baseless and defamatory allegations against Mr. Rama Rao in public all without any factual basis.

Responding to objections raised by Ms. Konda Surekha’s legal team, the court firmly rejected their contentions that the complaint was speculative or outside jurisdiction. The bench ruled that the court had proper authority to admit the complaint, citing a previous High Court direction.

The court also rejected the defence’s arguments concerning the admissibility of a pen drive submitted as evidence, stating that the requirement of a Section 65-B certificate under the Indian Evidence Act was premature at this stage, and that it could be addressed during the trial phase.