TV5 editors arrested over YSR helicopter crash conspiracy theory against Reliance

Reliance Industries rejects TV report on crash of YSR’s helicopter; case filed against TV5 for inciting violence

Reliance Industries Limited (RIL) has rejected as “false” and “malicious” a news report telecast by some Telugu-language television channels alleging that the company may have had a role in the helicopter crash on September 2, 2008, in which Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister Y S Rajasekhara Reddy (YSR) died.

A statement from Reliance Industries Limited said that “we are shocked and outraged at the false, malicious, motivated and libelous news on the TV5l” regarding the fatal mishap of Rajasekhara Reddy’s helicopter. “We condemn, rebut and reject the allegation with the contempt it deserves,” the statement added.

The Andhra Pradesh police have registered a case against owners of TV5, the Telugu-language television channel, for having aired “a baseless and malicious” report about an alleged conspiracy behind the death of Rajasekhara Reddy.

The TV report sparked widespread violence, and Reliance stores throughout Andhra Pradesh were attacked.

The police booked a case against TV5 – which telecast the story claiming it was based on a report on a Russian website – under sections 153/3A (provocation with intent to cause riot) and 502 A (sale of printed or engraved substance containing defamatory matter).

R R Girish Kumar, Director-General of Police (DGP) of Andhra Pradesh, told reporters that notices will issued to other television channels that aired the report, which TV5 had started telecasting on the night of January 7, 2010.

The DGP said the investigations into the helicopter crash that took place on September 2, 2008, were going on, and appealed to the people of the state not to be carried away by rumours.

The police also booked 96 cases and arrested 185 persons on charges of attacking the properties of the Reliance group.

State Home Minister P Sabita Indra Reddy said the government will deal sternly with anyone breaking the law. Chief Minister K Rosaiah, she added, spoke to Union Home Minister P Chidambaram over telephone and requested him speed up the investigation by the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) into the helicopter crash in which Y S Rajasekhara Reddy lost his life.

Prohibitory orders banning assembly of people have been clamped in Andhra Pradesh in view of the state-wide incidents of violence indulged in by the loyalists of Y S Rajasekhara Reddy.

Y S Jaganmohan Reddy, Y S Rajasekhara Reddy’s son and Member of Parliament from Kadappa in Andhra Pradesh, has appealed to the people of the state not to indulge in violence.

Leaders of al political parties in Andhra Pradesh condemned the attacks on Reliance outlets. They also demanded immediate measures to prevent TV channels from airing such news that might lead to violence.

N Chandrababu Naidu, president of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) and former chief minister, alleged that the attacks on Reliance stores were “planned.”

D Srinivas, president of Andhra Pradesh Congress Committee, decried the mob violence and also stressed that the Congress had no role in these incidents of violence.