Archive · 18 Sep 2026
Harish Rao Sues Congress Leaders Over Occult Remarks
T Harish Rao went to a temple in Karnataka with his family.
He says two Congress leaders wrongly described the visit as an occult ritual.
They allegedly claimed he wanted rain to stop in Telangana.
Rao says these comments hurt his reputation and insulted his religious faith.
He had earlier asked the leaders to withdraw the remarks and apologize.
One leader reportedly defended the comments, while the other allegedly refused to accept the legal notice.
Rao then filed a defamation case in a court in Nampally.
The court complaint includes videos and newspaper reports about the statements.
BRS Legislature Party deputy leader T Harish Rao filed a criminal defamation complaint against Mahesh Kumar Goud and Addanki Dayakar.
The complaint was submitted Thursday before the Special Judicial First Class Magistrate Court for elected representatives at Nampally.
Rao alleges the leaders distorted his family visit to Karnataka’s Kollur Mookambika Devi Temple by accusing him of occult rituals.
The complaint seeks action under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023, and includes video evidence and newspaper clippings.
Rao says the remarks were politically motivated, while Addanki defended his comments and Mahesh allegedly refused to accept a legal notice.
- Who
- T Harish Rao filed the complaint against TPCC President Mahesh Kumar Goud and Government Whip Addanki Dayakar.
- What
- A criminal defamation complaint over alleged remarks linking Rao’s temple visit to occult or black magic rituals.
- When
- The complaint was filed on Thursday; the temple visit and legal notices occurred last month.
- Where
- The complaint was filed at the Special Judicial First Class Magistrate Court for elected representatives in Nampally, Hyderabad, concerning remarks allegedly made at Gandhi Bhavan and through media and social media.
- Why
- Rao alleges the remarks were baseless, damaged his reputation, insulted his faith, and were politically intended to divert attention from issues raised against the Congress government.
Harish Rao’s Allegations
Congress Leaders’ Position
Meaning of the temple visit
Harish Rao’s Allegations
Rao says he visited the temple as a Hindu devotee on a spiritual trip and that the remarks falsely portrayed the visit as black magic.
Congress Leaders’ Position
Rao says Mahesh Kumar Goud and Addanki Dayakar alleged that he performed rituals wishing for rain to stop in Telangana; Addanki reportedly defended the remarks.
Political motivation
Harish Rao’s Allegations
Rao alleges the comments were personal attacks intended to damage his reputation and divert attention from criticism of the Congress government.
Congress Leaders’ Position
The article does not provide a separate detailed response from the two leaders on the broader political-motive allegation; Mahesh allegedly refused to accept the legal notice and Addanki defended his remarks.
- Complainant
- T Harish Rao, deputy leader of the BRS Legislature Party
- Accused leaders
- Mahesh Kumar Goud and Addanki Dayakar
- Legal provision
- Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita, 2023
- Court
- Special Judicial First Class Magistrate Court for elected representatives, Nampally
- Disputed visit
- Rao’s family visit to Kollur Mookambika Devi Temple in Karnataka
- Submitted evidence
- Video recordings and newspaper clippings provided through pen drives
- Earlier legal action
- Rao issued legal notices last month seeking retraction and unconditional public apologies