Ram Gopal Varma faces arrest for allegedly defaming Chandrababu Naidu

Filmmaker Ram Gopal landed in legal trouble after he allegedly made defamatory posts against Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu, his family members, and Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan on social media.

The director failed to appear before the police to record his statement in the matter on Monday, November 25, which led the police to visit his residence in Hyderabad. Sources said that Varma is facing arrest in the case, and the police couldn't find him at his place on Monday.

A few visuals of the Ongole police team from Varma's residence went viral. The sources also informed us that this is the second time that the 62-year-old failed to appear before the investigative officer in the case.

The Maddipadu police, on November 11, registered a case against Varma under several sections of the BNS Act, including Section 336 (4) and 353 (2), and under Section 67 of the IT Act. The case was registered after a local Telugu Desam Party (TDP) leader named Ramalingam complained against the filmmaker for allegedly tarnishing the reputation of CM Naidu, Deputy CM Kalyan, IT Minister Nara Lokesh, and others, during the promotion of Varma's film Vyuham last year.

On Sunday, November 24, Varma's lawyer wrote to the Maddipaddu police, informing them about the filmmaker's unavailability, and



requesting the team to give them two-weeks' time to report to the police station. The written letter also mentioned a request for a 'digital appearance' with a seven-day prior notice. "The constitutional liberty of my client's right to work need not be put to stress needlessly, and therefore, my client is seeking at least two weeks more time from today onwards. Also, my client's request to your authority is to intimate my client the date of virtual appearance in advance of at least seven days prior to this date to appear before your authority virtually via video," a part of the letter read.

The same letter also mentioned Varma denying all the allegations of defaming anyone through his posts. "With regard to my client's receipt of the notice dated 20-11-2024, I bestow that, my client after going through the FIR states that he has no knowledge of the allegations levelled against him by the complainant in the above-stated FIR which appear to have ulterior motives and hence, he denies each allegation in toto," the letter further read.

RGV, as he is popularly called, is reportedly aware that he's facing the threat of arrest. His council earlier told the court about the same when the judge said the petitioner should file a bail petition. The filmmaker was also served legal notice on November 13, directing him to appear before the police in the case.