The Hyderabad court on Tuesday witnessed actor Nagarjuna Akkineni recording his statement in a criminal defamation case he filed against Telangana Minister Konda Surekha. This legal battle stems from Surekha’s controversial remarks linking BRS leader KT Rama Rao to the divorce of Nagarjuna’s son, Naga Chaitanya, and Samantha Ruth Prabhu in 2021.
Surekha, the Minister of Forest, had stirred up a controversy last week by alleging Rama Rao’s involvement in the split, a claim that she later retracted after facing widespread backlash from the Telugu film industry and political circles. The minister claimed she was emotionally driven to make the comments after Rama Rao’s own remarks about her.
Nagarjuna, accompanied by his wife Amala and son Naga Chaitanya, appeared at the Nampally court. His complaint, shared by Chaitanya on social media, asserts that Surekha’s remarks severely damaged his family’s reputation. In his complaint, Nagarjuna stated that Surekha, while speaking to the media at a Gandhi Jayanti program on October 2nd, utilized her public platform to make defamatory statements concerning him and his family.
The actor’s lawyer, Ashok Reddy, confirmed that the statement of Supriya, a witness and niece of Nagarjuna, was also recorded.
Chaitanya and Prabhu had previously denounced Surekha’s comments, clarifying that their divorce was a mutual and personal decision. Following Surekha’s statements, many prominent figures from the Telugu film industry condemned her remarks as derogatory.
The Nagarjuna Akkineni family is widely recognized for its significant contributions to Indian cinema, with generations of actors earning admiration and respect. Samantha, Chaitanya’s former wife, is also a celebrated actress with a substantial following and an impeccable reputation in her own right.
The court has scheduled the next hearing for October 10th, where the matter will be further considered.
