Hyderabad: Cyberabad police arrested six individuals, including two women, for attacking Chilkur Balaji temple head priest, CS Rangarajan, on February 7. The main accused, Kovvuri Veer Raghava Reddy (45), from East Godavari, Andhra Pradesh, was remanded to judicial custody. The other five accused were also produced before the court.
According to the police, Raghava Reddy and his associates, dressed in black uniforms, arrived at Rangarajan’s residence, demanding financial support and recruitment into the ‘Rama Rajyam Army.’ When the priest refused, they assaulted him and recorded videos while issuing threats. The attack came to light when Temple Protection Movement convenor Dr. MV Soundararajan released a statement and video footage of the incident.
Police investigations revealed that Raghava Reddy founded the ‘Rama Rajyam Army’ in 2022 through social media and a YouTube channel, promoting Hindu Dharma protection. He offered recruitment from September to December 2024, promising a salary of Rs 20,000. After gathering 25 recruits, he collected funds and prepared uniforms before orchestrating the attack.
Following Rangarajan’s complaint, the police registered a case and swiftly arrested all accused. Authorities continue to investigate the group’s activities.
