Update (17 April 2026 at 10:10 am): As Anudeep Katikala is released from police custody, another AP-based stand-up comic, Rafiq Mohammed, is arrested for the alleged jokes on AP deputy CM Pawan Kalyan and AP IT minister Nara Lokesh, reported Siasat. Rafiq’s over-one-hour show, “Unapologetic Standup Comedian – Rafiq Mohammed”, is listed on BookMyShow without specifying the dates of the event. The word unapologetic refers to Kalyan’s popular phrase, “unapologetic sanatani,” where he proudly expressed his Hindu religion.

“Katikala Anudeep was set free by the JFC Magistrate in Kakinada,” posted Human Rights Forum (HRF) AP Committee’s Secretary, Gutta Rohit, on X.

Original: A YouTube video posted by stand-up comedian Anudeep Katikala led to his detention by Andhra Pradesh (AP) police for his jokes about actor-turned-Deputy Chief Minister Pawan Kalyan, according to Hyderabad-based publication Siasat, which first reported the development.  

These jokes sparked online outrage, resulting in abuse from fans, demands for an apology from members of Pawan Kalyan’s Jana Sena Party, and attempts to heckle him at stand-up venues. Jana Sena member Bade Venkata Krishna filed a complaint at the Kakinada police station, following which AP police detained Katikala in Prayagraj three days after the FIR was registered, while he was visiting his parents.

In the 30-minute stand-up video, he also mentioned other non-Konidela actors, including Naresh, Jr NTR, and Nani. However, the following two jokes triggered outrage online.

• Joke on Pawan Kalyan’s two divorces: Referring to Niharika Konidela’s divorce, he said they could learn from Pawan Kalyan on how to handle a divorce, calling him the most “experienced” person in the family. For context, Pawan Kalyan has been divorced twice. He said men should learn how to handle a divorce from Kalyan, as neither of his former wives accused him of mistreatment or abuse and referred to them as “happy breakups”. — [Timestamped Video]
• Joke on feminism: He also joked that Ram Charan was a “feminist” because he appeared secure despite Upasana Konidela’s wealth, due to the inheritance of Apollo Hospitals. — [Timestamped Video]

Jokes were meant to normalise feminism and divorce, he said, speaking with The News Minute. However, he also pointed out that Pawan Kalyan’s political rivals, i.e., YSRCP members, began circulating video clips online to mock the actor-turned-politician.

You can watch the full stand-up video on his YouTube channel: Babu lake Baabu | Telugu Standup Comedy by Anudeep Katikala [Video]

This isn’t the first time Pawan Kalyan fans have targeted a stand-up comedian: In July 2023, Hyderabad-based Hriday Ranjan, a former film critic, cracked jokes about Pawan Kalyan’s political life, which prompted online abuse from the actor’s fans, including violent threats, after his number was leaked.

The police charged him under Section 67 of the IT Act, which prescribes punishment for publishing or transmitting “obscene material” in electronic form, along with the following sections of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS):

• Statements related to public mischief – Section  353(2)
• Any word, gesture, or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman – Section 79 
• Defamation – Section 356(2)

Previous cases of “public mischief” that affected online free speech:

• In April 2025, Lucknow Police registered sedition cases against University of Lucknow assistant professor Madri Kakoti (known online as Dr Medusa) and folk singer Neha Singh Rathore, according to a report by The Wire. [Link]
• In May 2025, Sonipat Police filed an FIR against Ashoka University Professor Ali Khan Mahmudabad for his social media posts about Operation Sindoor. [Link]
• In June 2025, Kolkata Police arrested a law student, Sharmishtha Panoli, for a video she posted on May 7, in which she allegedly made offensive statements against Prophet Muhammad. [Link]

After the controversy involving Ranveer Allahabadia (a.k.a. BeerBiceps) and Samay Raina related to India’s Got Talent, scrutiny of so-called “obscene” content and online free speech intensified, leading to attempts to regulate online content. For instance, in July 2025, the Supreme Court of India called for an “open debate” to draft guidelines to regulate online content and speech with stakeholder consultation. “Suppose a race takes place between Article 19 and Article 21, Article 21 has to trump Article 19,” Justice Surya Kant reportedly said. Similarly, in November 2025, media reports indicated that the government may define “obscene content” and amend the IT Rules accordingly.

Read some of MediaNama’s coverage on Public Mischief:

• What Can Be Called ‘Public Mischief’ Online? Why Section 353 of Bhartiya Nyaya Sanhita Raises Free Speech Fears
• Free Speech or Public Mischief: How common are public mischief cases in India?
• Takedown Notices Served for Over 1100 Posts In A Year—What India Deemed Inciting “Public Mischief” on X?