Telangana Endowment and Forest Minister Konda Surekha has withdrawn her statement about popular actor Nagarjuna and his family, after the actor filed a lawsuit against her, accusing her of defamation
Konda Surekha and Nagarjuna
Telangana Endowment and Forest Minister Konda Surekha has now withdrawn her statement of last year about popular actor Nagarjuna and his family. Her withdrawal comes after Nagarjuna filed a defamation case against her last year. Taking to social media, the minister clarified that the statement she made was not intended to hurt him or his family member.
Telangana Minister Konda Surekha withdraws statement
Taking to X, she said, "I would wish to clarify that the statement I had made in relation to Nagarjuna Garu was not intended to hurt Nagarjuna Garu or his family members. I had no intention of hurting or defaming Akkineni Nagarjuna Garu or his family members." "I regret any unintended impression given in my statements in relation to them and withdraw the same," she further added.
For the unversed, Konda Surekha made the controversial statement on October 2 last year, wherein she blamed Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president K. T. Rama Rao (KTR) for the divorce between Nagarjuna's actor son Naga Chaitanya and actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu. Following her remarks, Samantha had issued a statement clarifying that her divorce was with mutual consent. The actress also urged the minister not to trivialise her journey and to be responsible and respectful of individuals' privacy.
Konda Surekha later posted a message on X noting that she was withdrawing her earlier comments. The minister added that her comments were not meant to hurt her sentiments but instead question a leader's belittling of women.
Nagarjuna's defamation lawsuit against Surekha
However, Nagarjuna filed a petition in a city court under Section 356 of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita. He stated that the minister's remarks harmed his family's dignity and reputation.
Nagarjuna had said that the minister had made disrespectful comments about his family, particularly regarding the divorce of his son, Naga Chaitanya, from Samantha. The actor complained that Konda Sureskha's remarks tarnished his family's reputation, which has been built over decades through their work in the film industry and social service initiatives.
Though KTR had issued a legal notice asking the minister to retract her statement and apologise, she said she was standing by her comments about the BRS leader. Following this, KTR also initiated defamation proceedings against the minister.
(With inputs from IANS)
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