Hyderabad: The Cyberabad Police have arrested five additional individuals in connection with the February 7 attack on C.S. Rangarajan, the chief priest of Chilkur Balaji temple. The prime accused, Kovvuri Veera Raghava Reddy, was arrested on Sunday and has been remanded to judicial custody.
On Monday, Telangana Chief Minister A. Revanth Reddy personally reached out to Rangarajan to check on his well-being. Condemning the attack, the CM assured strict action against the culprits, stating, “Such attacks will not be tolerated.”
Key Arrests and Investigation Details
Apart from Raghava Reddy, who hails from East Godavari district, five others, including two women from Khammam and Nizamabad, were arrested and remanded to judicial custody.
According to Ch. Srinivas, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Rajendranagar, Raghava Reddy had established an online organization called ‘Rama Rajyam’ in 2022. Through Facebook and YouTube, he propagated Bhagavad Gita slokas and encouraged youth to join an unofficial “army” to protect Hindu Dharma.
He falsely promised a monthly salary of ₹20,000 for those registering between September and December 2024. Responding to these claims, 25 individuals gathered under his leadership.
Attack on the Chief Priest
On February 8, about 25 individuals in black uniforms stormed the residence of Rangarajan in Chilkur, demanding financial support and recruitment assistance for their group.
In his complaint, Rangarajan stated that Raghava Reddy claimed to be an incarnation of Lord Shiva (Mukkanti) and physically assaulted him while his followers recorded the attack. He also issued threats, warning of “dangerous consequences” if the priest did not comply.
Rangarajan’s father, M.V. Soundararajan, brought the incident to public attention, highlighting concerns over a parallel extremist group forming under the guise of “Rama Rajyam Army.”
Police Investigation and Warning
According to Moinabad police inspector G. Pavan Kumar Reddy, Raghava Reddy considered himself the supreme leader of his “army,” demanding unquestioned loyalty from his followers. The group reportedly threatened Rangarajan to support their mission before the Ugadi festival or face dire consequences.
Authorities are treating this case as a serious threat to law and order, with ongoing efforts to dismantle any such extremist formations.
