A court has sentenced Tollywood actor couple Rajasekhar and Jeevitha to one year of imprisonment in a defamation case. However, the couple has been granted bail following the judgment, along with a fine of Rs 5,000. The court's decision was pronounced on Tuesday, and the bail was granted to allow the couple to appeal in a higher court.
The defamation case dates back to 2011 when the actor couple made allegations against Chiranjeevi Blood Bank, which is run by actor Chiranjeevi. Rajasekhar and Jeevitha claimed that the blood bank was involved in selling blood units after collecting them free of cost from donors. Moreover, they alleged large-scale irregularities in Chiranjeevi's Blood Bank and Charitable Trust.
The actor couple had reportedly stated that Chiranjeevi's Charitable Trust, which received Rs. 14.5 lakh from the state government for the maintenance of the blood bank, was selling a unit of blood at Rs 850.
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As a consequence, film producer Allu Aravind, who happens to be Chiranjeevi's brother-in-law, filed a defamation suit against Rajasekhar and Jeevitha. Aravind argued that the allegations made by the couple and their follower Harikrishna Goud against Chiranjeevi's Charitable Trust, the Blood Bank, and its trustees were entirely false and driven by political motives.
Rajasekhar, known for his notable performances in films like "Talambralu," "Ankusam," and "Simharasi," started his acting career in Tamil cinema with "Pudhumai Penn." Meanwhile, Jeevitha, who made her debut with "Uravai Kaatha Kili," has also directed four films.
The actor couple's legal battle and the subsequent sentencing have drawn attention in the Tollywood industry. Their recent movie appearance together was in the 2022 thriller film "Shekar," directed by Jeevitha herself.
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