From Trolling to FIRs: Anasuya Shakes Social Media

Telugu actress and television anchor Anasuya Bharadwaj has filed a formal complaint with the Cyber Crime Police, alleging sustained online harassment, sexual abuse, character assassination, and threats across social media platforms since December 23.

Based on her complaint and the evidence submitted, police have registered cases against 42 individuals, including private persons, social media users, content creators, and media linked personalities. The offences invoked include criminal defamation, sexual harassment, online abuse, and AI based forgery.

According to the complaint, Anasuya stated that the abuse was not isolated but appeared to be a coordinated online campaign. She said it intensified after she expressed her opinion during a media interview. She submitted the names of the accused along with social media links and supporting material.

Those booked include Bojja Sandhya Reddy, Priya Choudary Gogineni, Pavani, Shekhar Basha, Rajani, Karate Kalyani, Vijayalakshmi, TV anchor Rohith, another television channel anchor, Durga, TV anchor Manoj, along with certain television channels and online media pages.

Following the filing of the case, the Women and Transgender Organisations Joint Action Committee issued a strong statement condemning the increasing harassment of women in the Telugu film industry. The committee called for an immediate end to misogyny, victim blaming, and hate driven content on television debates and YouTube platforms, stating that such programs are often driven by TRP and profit motives.

The committee linked the current controversy to incidents in December, when actresses Nidhhi Agerwal and Samantha Ruth Prabhu were reportedly harassed by crowds during public film promotions. It also referred to remarks made by Telugu actor Sivaji, who suggested that women’s clothing choices were responsible for such behavior, which triggered widespread backlash.

After actresses Anasuya Bharadwaj and singer Chinmayi Sripada publicly opposed those remarks, both became targets of intense online trolling and abuse. The committee noted a disturbing pattern in which women who speak out are attacked, while accountability for perpetrators remains limited.

The statement also highlighted concerns over cyberbullying and digital violence. It pointed out that in Anasuya’s case, private family and holiday photographs were circulated online without her consent, calling it a serious violation of privacy and dignity.

The committee accused sections of television and digital media of normalizing abuse against women under the guise of debates and discussions. It warned that such narratives not only endanger women but also promote a distorted and harmful social mindset.

The committee concluded by rejecting the use of culture as a justification for policing women’s behavior, stating that women’s clothing choices are a matter of personal autonomy and not an invitation for harassment.

Police officials have confirmed that investigations are ongoing.