Telugu superstar Nagarjuna has filed a defamation lawsuit against Telangana Minister Konda Surekha following her controversial remarks, in which she accused BRS leader KT Rama Rao of being responsible for the divorce of actors Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya.
The divorce of the popular celebrity couple, which was announced in 2021, was a mutual decision, as reiterated by both Samantha and Naga Chaitanya. The two expressed disappointment over their names being dragged into political debates.
Nagarjuna files defamation case against Konda Surekha
Nagarjuna, father of Naga Chaitanya, had already criticised the minister on Wednesday, calling her comments unfounded. He has now taken legal action, filing a defamation case in the Nampally court under Section 356 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS).
According to the complaint, which was shared by Naga Chaitanya on social media, Nagarjuna claimed that Surekha’s statements have caused significant damage to his family’s reputation.
"The statement was made with the malicious intent of conveying falsehoods to the public at large, intending to cause harm to the complainant and his family reputation for political gain and sensationalism..." the complaint said.
The complaint further added that Surekha’s actions amounted to a criminal offense under the law.
Nagarjuna also accused the minister of knowingly spreading false allegations, emphasising that she was fully aware of their inaccuracy when making the statements.
Konda Surekha withdrew her statement and apologised
The minister's comments have drawn widespread condemnation from the film industry. Prominent figures including Chiranjeevi, Jr NTR, Allu Arjun, Nani, Chinmayi Sripaada, Venkatesh, Prakash Raj, and Khushbu have criticised Surekha for her remarks. Following the outcry, the minister withdrew her statements, and wrote on X: “My comments are meant to question a leader’s belittling of women and not to hurt your sentiments, Samantha. The way you have grown up with self-power is not only an admiration for me.. but also an ideal. If you or your fans are offended by my comments, I unconditionally retract my comments. Don’t think otherwise.”
Samantha Ruth Prabhu and Naga Chaitanya speak out
Meanwhile, Samantha Ruth Prabhu addressed the controversy via her Instagram Story, once again denying any political involvement in her split from Naga Chaitanya. She wrote, “There was no political conspiracy behind our divorce, which was purely a mutual decision."
Naga Chaitanya also issued a statement on X (formerly Twitter), calling his divorce one of the "most painful and unfortunate" decisions of his life. He labeled Konda Surekha’s claims as “ridiculous,” firmly denying any external involvement in the matter.