Rama Rajya plot: 5 more arrested in attack on Hyderabad temple priest; recruits promised Rs 20,000 salary

Besides Raghava Reddy, who is a native of East Godavari district in Andhra Pradesh and a resident of Manikonda in Hyderabad, the five arrested include two women from Khammam and Nizamabad districts. They were remanded in judicial custody.

According to Ch Srinivas, Deputy Commissioner of Police (DCP), Rajendranagar, Raghava Reddy started ‘Rama Rajyam’ in 2022 on social media platforms, including Facebook, and operated a YouTube channel. “He posted Bhagavad Gita slokas and motivated people to join the Army to protect Hindu Dharma. He also announced that individuals registering between September 1, 2024, and December 31, 2024, would be recruited into the ‘Rama Rajyam Army’ with a salary of Rs 20,000,” the DCP said in a statement.

Responding to this social media post, 25 people first met the accused on January 24, 2025, at Tanuku. “After four days of stay, they travelled to Kotappakonda, where they contributed Rs 2,000 each and had uniforms stitched by a local tailor. On 06.02.2025, after receiving the uniforms, they gathered in an independent house in Yapral, Hyderabad, and took photos and videos in uniform with the organisation’s logo in the backdrop. On 07.02.2025, they travelled to Chilkur in three vehicles and committed the above crime,” the DCP added.

On February 8, at around 8 pm, about 25 people clad in black uniform barged into the residence of C S Rangarajan, the chief priest of the famous Chilkur Balaji temple. They demanded his support financially and also asked him to recruit people into the ‘Rama Rajyam Army’.

In his complaint, Rangarajan said the main accused, Veera Raghava Reddy, called himself the incarnation of Mukkanti (Lord Shiva) and landed strong blows on his face and body as three to four of his followers joined him. “They recorded the whole thing with cell phone cameras… They threatened me with dire consequences if I did not listen to them, and the result would be dangerous… They also asked me to recruit people for his Sainyam (army) and support his causes monetarily,” Rangarajan further said.

He said his disciples found out that in many videos on social media, the accused was claiming that he could go to any extent and even take people’s lives if required. “If such persons are allowed to create a parallel army like Naxals in the name of Rama Sena it will be dangerous,” Rangarajan added in the complaint.

The alleged attack occurred on February 7 and came to light on Sunday after the chief priest’s father and Temples Protection Movement convenor M V Soundararajan reached out to the media.

He said a group claiming to establish its “version of Rama Rajya by forming private armies to punish those who do not accept their mission or agenda” was behind the attack.

Moinabad police inspector G Pavan Kumar Reddy told indianexpress.com that the main accused calls himself the ruler of the sainyam (army) spread across Andhra Pradesh and Telangana and that his word alone should be followed. “The group has warned Rangarajan to accept their mission before the Ugadi festival or face consequences,” the inspector further said.

He added that the main accused allegedly wanted Rangarajan to spread the message of “dharma rakshana” (protection of religion) just like priests of other religions do.

The accused have been booked under Sections 189(2) (unlawful assembly), 333 (house trespass), 308(5) (extortion), 115(2) (causing hurt), 352 (intentional insult with intent to provoke breach of peace), 351(3) (threat involving death, grievous injury or destruction of property) and 190 (applicable to every member of the group) of Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita.