Telugu cinema superstar Nagarjuna Akkineni has filed a defamation complaint against Telangana Minister Konda Surekha for making “defamatory and derogatory” statements regarding his son, actor Naga Chaitanya’s divorce from Samantha Ruth Prabhu. The complaint, filed in Hyderabad’s Nampally district, accuses the Congress leader of deliberately spreading false allegations with malicious intent, aiming to damage his family’s personal and professional reputation.
The controversy erupted when Konda Surekha made incendiary remarks during a public address, accusing Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) leader KT Rama Rao (KTR) of orchestrating the celebrity couple’s divorce by allegedly luring Samantha into drug addiction and blackmailing her. “It is KT Rama Rao because of whom Samantha’s divorce happened… He used to make them drug addicts… everyone knows this,” she claimed.
Nagarjuna responded swiftly by lodging the complaint, emphasizing that the statements were knowingly false and intended for political gain and sensationalism. “The above actions constitute a criminal offence,” the complaint read, underscoring the damage caused to the Akkineni family’s reputation.
Naga Chaitanya and Samantha Ruth Prabhu Speak Out
Both Naga Chaitanya and Samantha, who are among the top actors in the Telugu film industry, reacted strongly to the allegations. In a public statement, Naga Chaitanya described the divorce as a “painful and unfortunate life decision,” emphasizing it was a mutual decision made in peace. He condemned Konda Surekha’s remarks, calling them “completely baseless and ridiculous.”
Samantha also responded, calling the minister’s remarks “shameful” and urging her to refrain from using her personal life for political purposes. “My divorce is a personal matter, and I request you to keep my name out of political battles,” she stated.
Apology From the Minister
Facing intense backlash, Konda Surekha issued an “unconditional” apology to Naga Chaitanya and Samantha on Thursday. She expressed regret over her remarks, stating that it was an “unexpected slip of the tongue.” However, while retracting her comments about the actors, she refused to back down from her attacks on KTR, demanding that he also apologize.
“I unconditionally withdraw my statement regarding the family, but in KTR’s case, there is no going back,” she declared. She also acknowledged Samantha’s success and growth, expressing admiration for her.
Political Fallout
While the Congress party’s senior leadership has remained silent, Telangana IT Minister Sridhar Babu responded, calling the situation “unfortunate.” Meanwhile, KTR has also served Konda Surekha with a defamation notice, accusing her of engaging in “disgusting and nauseating politics” and demanding action from Congress leader Rahul Gandhi.
Sources By Agencies
