Konda Surekha responds to Nagarjuna’s defamation case amid controversy

In a notable legal turn, Telangana’s Forest and Environment Minister Konda Surekha has officially submitted her response to the defamation case brought against her by actor Akkineni Nagarjuna. This development took place on October 24, with her lawyer Gurmeet Singh presenting the reply to a Special Judicial Magistrate.

The dispute stems from comments Surekha made on October 2 regarding the high-profile divorce of Nagarjuna’s son, Naga Chaitanya, and actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu. During her remarks, she attributed blame for the split to K.T. Rama Rao, the working president of the Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS), sparking outrage in both political and film circles.

Nagarjuna filed a petition on October 10, arguing that Surekha’s statements damaged his family’s reputation, which they have built over many years through their contributions to cinema and community service. He requested the court to take action against her under Section 356 of the BNS for her alleged derogatory remarks.

The court has already heard testimonies from witnesses Supriya Yarlagadda and Venkateshwar Metla, and recorded Nagarjuna’s statement on October 8, where he expressed that the minister’s comments were disrespectful and detrimental to his family’s honour.

Samantha Ruth Prabhu has publicly responded to the situation, clarifying that her divorce was amicable and urging Surekha to respect personal privacy rather than trivialize her experiences. Following the backlash, Surekha indicated she would retract her previous comments, asserting they were not intended to hurt Samantha but rather to critique a political leader’s treatment of women.

In an escalating legal battle, K.T. Rama Rao has also filed a ₹100 crore defamation suit against Surekha, adding further complexity to this unfolding saga. The case is set for further hearing on October 30.