# Telangana HC restrains arrest in Dalit insult case

2026-09-15T21:51:35+00:00 | Governance | Indian Opinion Desk

Corroboration: 3 independent outlets

Justice T. Madhavi Devi of the Telangana High Court on Tuesday directed the Markook police in Siddipet not to arrest 21 petitioners without following due process in a case involving an alleged insult of the Dalit community. The court instructed the police to issue notices under Section 35(3) of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita before taking any action. The case stems from an incident on September 8 near K. Chandrasekhar Rao's farmhouse at Erravalli, where some persons allegedly sprinkled turmeric water on a road used by Dalit protesters. The protesters were demonstrating against BRS legislators for allegedly abusing Assembly Speaker Gaddam Prasad. The police registered FIRs under the SC/ST Prevention of Atrocities Act. The petitioners, represented by counsel Kalyan Rao Chengalva, argued they were willing to cooperate but police were trying to arrest them without notice. The government pleader opposed relief, citing strong evidence. Police have already arrested some individuals in three related cases.

## Indian Opinion Analysis

All three outlets report the same core facts and court order, reflecting uniform neutral-report coverage. Telangana Today and The Hindu foreground the legal procedure and the court's direction, while Times of India adds the government's opposition and the fact that some arrests have already been made. The key distinction is that TOI includes the government pleader's argument that the SC/ST Act case allows arrest if the IO is satisfied, which other outlets omit. The case now proceeds with the police bound to issue notices first.

## Coverage

- telanganatoday.com (neutral report) <https://telanganatoday.com/telangana-hc-directs-police-not-to-arrest-petitioners-in-dalit-insult-case>
  Straight report of court proceedings, no framing slant
- timesofindia.indiatimes.com (neutral report) <https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/hyderabad/hc-directs-police-to-follow-bnss-in-farmhouse-cleansing-case/articleshow/134272265.cms>
  Leads with HC direction, includes police and government arguments
- thehindu.com (neutral report) <https://www.thehindu.com/news/national/telangana/hc-directs-police-to-issue-notices-to-accused-in-case-of-purification-at-erravalli/article71469599.ece>
  Detailed background on the political context of the protest

Tags: BNSS, Justice T Madhavi Devi, Markook Police, SC/ST Act, Siddipet, Telangana High Court
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