The case registered by Kukatpally police against TV5 Telugu news channel CEO D H V S S N Murthy for alleged extortion, blackmail, and illegal phone tapping following a complaint filed by Telugu film actor and businessman Kakani Dharma Satya Sai Srinivasa Mahesh has triggered ripples in the media and film circles.
According to the FIR, registered at the Kukatpally Police Station under Section 303(3) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS) and Section 72 of the Information Technology Act, 2000, Murthy was allegedly maintaining a personal relationship with Kakani Dharma’s wife Chirumamilla Gowthami who is also an actor, who is currently residing at a leased villa in Madhapur.
Dharma also provided evidence of their meetings at cafes in Madhapur and Gachibowli, claiming these were part of a premeditated conspiracy to blackmail him.
He alleged that both Murthy and Gowthami had conspired to illegally intercept his phone calls, record private conversations, and telecast them on TV5 without his consent.
Dharma, who is also the founder of the popular restaurant chain Gismat Arabic Mandi, stated that the telecast of his private phone conversation with his father on September 25, 2025, caused severe humiliation and reputational damage to his family.
He further claimed that the accused are in possession of secretly recorded videos and personal data obtained through hidden cameras.
He alleged that Murthy and Gowthami demanded Rs 10 crore from him to stop releasing his private videos and call recordings.
They allegedly threatened to continue publishing the content on TV5 and social media if the demand was not met.
Dharma said he and his father, senior TDP leader Kakani Venkateswar Rao, have been receiving life threats from the accused.
“They threatened to ruin my career and damage my family’s reputation unless we paid Rs 10 crore or transferred the ownership rights of ‘Gismat’ to them,” the FIR quotes the actor as saying.
Dharma sought police protection for himself and his family, citing continuing threats to their safety and dignity.