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Hyderabad, Nov 13 (IANS) Popular Tollywood actor Akkineni Nagarjuna on Thursday withdrew the defamation case against Telangana Endowments and Forests Minister Konda Surekha, a day after Nagarjuna expressed regret over his statement about the actor and his family members.
After Nagarjuna filed a petition under Section 280 of the Indian Civil Defense Code (BNSS) and virtually informed that he was withdrawing the case, the court of the Special Judicial First Class Magistrate dismissed the case as withdrawn.
The minister on Wednesday asked Ax to clarify that the statement he had given was not intended to hurt Nagarjuna or his family member.
The minister said, “I would like to clarify that the statement I made regarding Nagarjuna garu was not intended to hurt Nagarjuna garu or his family members. I had no intention to hurt or defame Akkineni Nagarjuna garu or his family members.”
“I regret and retract any impression I may have inadvertently given in my statements regarding him,” she said.
The minister had made a controversial statement on October 2 last year blaming Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) working president KT Rama Rao (KTR) for the divorce between Nagarjuna’s actor son Naga Chaitanya and actress Samantha Ruth Prabhu.
Following the minister’s comments, Samantha had issued a statement clarifying that their divorce was mutually consensual and amicable.
He urged the Minister not to trivialize his visit and to be responsible and respectful of the privacy of individuals.
Konda Surekha later posted on Twitter that she was withdrawing her comments.
The minister said his comments were not intended to hurt their sentiments but to raise questions over a leader insulting women.
However, Nagarjuna filed a petition in a city court under Section 356 of the BNS.
He said that the dignity and reputation of his family has been harmed by the minister’s comments.
Nagarjuna had said that the minister had made derogatory remarks about his family, especially in relation to the divorce of his son Naga Chaitanya from Samantha.
The actor complained that Konda Surekha’s comments had tarnished his family’s reputation, which has been built over decades through their work in the film industry and social service initiatives.
Although KTR had issued a legal notice asking the minister to withdraw his statement and apologise, he said he stood by his comments about the BRS leader.
After this, KTR also initiated defamation proceedings against the minister.
Meanwhile, Konda Surekha on Thursday said that KTR had provoked her to make these comments.
He told the media that he has no personal enmity with anyone.
He said, “I made those comments unknowingly. When I realized that I had hurt someone, I felt bad and took back those comments.”
–IANS
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