Lawfare – Defamation, Journalists

The Chairman of the Tirumala Tirupati Devasthanams (TTD) Board Bollineni Rajagopal Naidu (BR Naidu), who is also the head of TV5 Telugu News Channel, has served a legal notice to Sakshi TV and Sakshi Newspaper, alleging defamatory reporting and seeking compensation of Rs 10 crore.

Naidu claimed that Sakshi TV, owned by YSRCP chief Jagan Mohan Reddy, and its newspaper published “malicious and frivolous” reports on August 10 and August 14, 2025, with the intent to discredit his work for Lord Venkateshwara Swamy and the TTD Board.

He described the coverage as part of a “larger conspiracy” aimed at him due to his role at TV5, which he said provides “unbiased, impartial and fair news” that allegedly displeased the Sakshi management.

According to Naidu, the defamatory content has harmed not only his personal reputation but also “hurt the sentiments of crores of devotees of Lord Venkateshwara Swamy across the world.” He confirmed that his advocate issued the legal notice to the Sakshi management on August 18, demanding an unconditional apology and Rs 10 crore in damages payable to the TTD Board.