YouTuber sent to jail after Andhra Police invokes UAPA

Vijayawada, July 6 (IANS) A court at Gannavaram in Andhra Pradesh’s Krishna district has sent YouTuber and political commentator Bachalakuri Joseph alias Prashna Raavan, to judicial custody for 14 days in the case relating to alleged derogatory remarks against the state’s Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan.

Arrested for the fifth time in less than a week, Raavan was produced before a judge late on Sunday night.

After hearing arguments from both the sides, the judge remanded Raavan to judicial remand till July 18.

He was subsequently shifted to Nellore Central Jail.

Soon after the YouTuber secured bail for the fourth time on July 4, Gannavaram Police had arrested him on a complaint lodged by a local leader of Pawan Kalyan-led Jana Sena.

This time, the police invoked stringent sections not only under the Bharatiya Nyana Sanhita (BNS) but also under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA).

The FIR was registered against the YouTuber under BNS Sections 147, 148, 152, 192, 197(1)(d), and 353(1)(b) and UAPA Sections 13 and 39.

The charges include waging war against the Indian government, attempting to wage war, or abetting the waging of war, criminal conspiracy, threats to public order, acts threatening the sovereignty and integrity of India, support for unlawful activities, and support for a terrorist organisation.

The Gannavaram police also invoked Section 148, which deals with conspiracy to commit an offence punishable under Section 147, or conspiracy to overawe the Central or a state government by criminal force or by the show of criminal force.

Raavan is also facing charges under Section 152, which criminalises acts that endanger the sovereignty, unity and integrity of India. The offence is punishable with death or imprisonment for life, in addition to a fine.

Meanwhile, Raavan’s wife Anusha said in Hyderabad that her husband spoke the very same language that Pawan Kalyan used.

“File such cases against Pawan Kalyan first, and then against my husband. They are creating morphed videos and spreading false propaganda against Raavan,” she told media.

The Pithampuram police had arrested the YouTuber from Hyderabad on June 30 for allegedly making derogatory comments against the Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan and others during a Dalit Christian meeting at Eluru on June 28.

Jana Sena workers had filed a case against Raavan at several police stations in the state, citing videos on Ravan’s YouTube channel ‘Prashna’.

After, Raavan was granted bail by a court in Pithapuram, he was arrested by the police at another police station.

As Raavan granted bail even after he was arrested in the fourth case, police booked stringent sections under BNS and UAPA to rule out his chances of securing a bail.

The Telugu Desam Party-led coalition government in the state has come under sharp criticism from Opposition YSR Congress Party and various groups for its ‘vendetta’.

Actor Prakash Raj accused the Andhra Pradesh government of pursuing vendetta politics by resorting to repeated arrests of Raavan.

“How far are you planning to go by abusing power,” he asked and demanded Raavan’s immediate release.

–IANS

ms/khz