Reliance Industries Ltd on Friday slammed a news report telecast on TV5 channel, saying it "condemned, rejected, rebutted the allegation of TV5 channel".
“We are shocked and outraged at the false, malicious, motivated and libelous news on TV5 Channel concerning the fatal mishap of Shri YS Rajasekhara Reddy's helicopter. We condemn, rebut and reject the allegation with the contempt it deserves," a statement from the company said.
"It is the dirty handiwork of our business rivals in cahoots with TV5. We will file a criminal complaint against the channel. We also demand that the central and state governments initiate an immediate investigation into these despicable acts and bring the culprits to justice”, the statement said.
Meanwhile, the Andhra Pradesh police has booked a case against the Telugu television news channel for carrying "unverified" report alleging that a Mumbai-based corporate house had been involved in an alleged conspiracy behind the death of YSR in September last year.
Director General of Police R Girish Kumar addressed an emergency press conference after midnight and said that the Hyderabad city police commissioner would serve a notice on the channel asking it to shut its telecast immediately. The case was being filed under section under 153 (B) among others for creating discord and provoking violence in the state.
He said similar action would be taken against all channels that carried similar reports based on allegations published on a Russian website. "To our knowledge it is an old report which was already discussed in the media in the past," he said.
He said the miscreants had not only attacked the properties of Reliance group, but they had also indulged in looting and arson. YSR loyalists in the Rayalaseema region on Thursday evening attacked some Reliance Fresh outlets and indulged in looting and arson.
Warning that the police will take firm and effective action against rioters to suppress the violence, he appealed to the people to remain calm and exercise patience.
"Violence will bring a bad name to the state and affect its progress and development," he said.
The DGP said the Reliance properties were targeted at several places and a Reliance mall was attacked in Anantapur district. Without giving the specific numbers, he said nine such reports were reported from Hyderabad and Cyberabad cities where section 144 has been imposed.
In regard to the investigations into the helicopter crash on September 2 in which YSR and four others had died, Girish Kumar said several agencies including the Central Bureau of Investigation were on the job.
"Nobody in government was interested in suppressing or hiding the facts," he said.
The DGP said that the government was trying to get the investigations completed at the earliest and bring the facts before the people.
The local television channel TV5 said a Russian web magazine, The Exiled, had speculated that there could be a conspiracy behind Reddy's death but the government had rjected all such reports as unsubstantiated and speculative.
