Ravi Prakash, CEO of news channel TV9, was today arrested and released on bail in connection with a criminal case registered against the channel.

Based on the directions of Hyderabad High Court, Prakash, who had last month sought anticipatory bail, was supposed to surrender before a local court, but he failed to do so and today he surrendered before L B Nagar police here, deputy commissioner of police P Viswa Prasad said.

L B Nagar police in June had registered a case against the news channel following a magistrate's order. A lawyer had filed a private complaint in the court, alleging that a program telecast by the channel belittled Telangana MLAs. He was arrested after he surrendered before the investigation officer and handed over his passport...he furnished a personal bond of Rs 25,000 besides two sureties of Rs 20,000 each and was released on bail, the DCP said.

He will have to appear before police every Sunday till the charge sheet is filed and every first Sunday of the month later on. Following the order of Metropolitan Magistrate's Court of Cyberabad, the case was registered under Cable Television Networks Act and IPC sections 504 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace) and 505 (statements causing public mischief) against the channel.

Advocate Janardhan Goud had complained before the court that the channel's 'Bullet News' programme of June 12 made some derogatory statements about the MLAs. Telangana Assembly has passed a resolution authorising the Speaker to initiate action against TV9 over the programme. The broadcast of ABN Andhra Jyothi and TV9 Telugu channels had been blocked by the association of Telangana Multiple System Operators since June 16, for allegedly denigrating Telangana dialect and hurting people's sentiments.

- PTI