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January 14, 2026 – India –
Three journalists working for NTV were detained by Telangana Police in Hyderabad in early January 2026 following their broadcast of a controversial programme, local reports indicate.
Police action occurred late at night and involved taking the journalists into custody for alleged “defamatory” content published as part of the programme that reportedly criticised public officials. Authorities booked them on charges related to obscene, derogatory, or abusive material and registered cases that, according to police, could incite social discord; the precise legal provisions cited in police complaints include sections of India’s Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and the Information Technology Act.
The detentions were swiftly met with political backlash from opposition parties and media associations in Telangana, which labelled the arrests an attack on press freedom and accused the ruling Congress government of intolerance toward critical reporting. Former ministers and opposition leaders argued the journalists were targeted for doing their job by airing content that scrutinised governance issues and expressed public sentiment; some representatives characterised the move as reminiscent of undemocratic practices and warned it could deter independent journalism in the state.
Journalist unions and civil society groups also condemned the actions, urging authorities to uphold constitutional protections for freedom of expression and to ensure that any legal measures against media professionals align with democratic norms rather than curtail legitimate reporting. Events in Telangana add to ongoing debates within India over police and government interaction with journalists, especially in politically sensitive contexts where media content intersects with allegations of defamation and public order.
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