YouTuber Prashna Ravan Arrested for the Fifth Time Under UAPA

Police took Ravan into custody at the Vempadu toll plaza in Anakapalli district following a complaint lodged on Saturday by Jana Sena leader and state road development corporation director Garikipati Siva Shankar at the Gannavaram police station.

An FIR was registered under Sections 147, 148, 152, 192, 197(1)(d) and 353(1)(b) of the BNS, besides Sections 13 and 39 of the UAPA.

Section 353(1)(b) of the BNS deals with publishing or circulating false information intended or likely to create fear or disturb public tranquillity, while Sections 13 and 39 of the UAPA relate to unlawful activities and support to a terrorist organisation, carrying stringent penalties.

Ravan had earlier approached the AP high court, seeking to club multiple criminal cases registered against him at different police stations into a single case. The petition named the state government, the DGP and senior police officials among the respondents.

Meanwhile, cinematography and tourism Minister Kandula Durgesh alleged that actor Prakash Raj and Joseph Ravan were part of a larger conspiracy to target deputy chief minister Pawan Kalyan. Claiming the government possessed evidence of their association, the minister alleged that they were acting under the direction of the ‘Tadepalli Palace’ and were attempting to incite caste and communal tensions to malign the deputy CM.

He urged police to conduct a thorough investigation and initiate stringent action if any wrongdoing was established.