Even as poll strategist of Congress Sunil Kanugolu appeared before Hyderabad Police in connection with a case against him over derogatory social media posts another notice under section 41 was issued against a senior Congress leader Mallu Ravi directing him to appear at the Cyber crime police station on 12 January.

Sunil Kanugolu appeared on Monday before officials of the cyber crime wing of Hyderabad police after Telangana High Court, declining relief, directed him to appear before police for questioning over his derogatory social media against Telangana Chief Minister K Chandrashekhar Rao and his daughter Kalvakuntla Kavitha.

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Earlier, the police had raided his office in Madhapur and detained three employees after several complaints over morphed photographs and abusive content which were posted on social media through proxies. Later, the employees were let off and a notice was issued against him under section 41 of CrPC to appear before police for interrogation on 30 December.

Since Kanugolu was absconding, the notice was handed over to Mallu Ravi, former MP and TPCC vice-president.  As he moved the high court seeking quashing of the notice the police issued a fresh notice for 8 January. He then requested the police to hold the interrogation a day later which was accepted.

Ravi, who belongs to the camp of A Revanth Reddy, the PCC chief was asked to appear before the police in order to ascertain facts in connection with the case. It may be pointed out that senior Congress leaders have alleged Kanugolu was also involved in uploading derogatory posts against them as well. Former PCC chief N Uttam Kumar Reddy had said Hyderabad police commissioner CV Anand  told him that the derogatory posts against him had also come from Kanugolu’s office.

Meanwhile, the Congress held a dharna by sarpanches of gram panchayat demanding that their funds should be immediately released by the state government. TPCC president Revanth Reddy accused the BRS Government of paying the contractors with the funds meant for panchayats and driving sarpanches to suicide.

Earlier in the day, Congress leaders accused the police of arresting them to prevent them from joining the protest. As the police declined permission to the party to hold the protest at Indira Chowk it approached the court.