HYDERABAD: A case has been filed against poet and Telugu lyricist Jonnavithula Ramalingeswara Rao under the Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act for endorsing the practice of untouchability through a controversial poem.

According to reports, Telangana Mala Welfare Association president, Battula Ram Prasad approached the Nampally police and filed a complaint on May 21.

However, a case was registered after the police sought legal opinion on the case. Jonnavithula has been booked under section 3 (1) of Scheduled Caste and Scheduled Tribe (Prevention of Atrocities) Act and 7 (1)(d) Prevention of Civil Rights Act (prevents any person from exercising any right accruing to him by reason of the abolition of “untouchability” under Article 17 of the Constitution).

“The poem contains malice, a message and direction to people in India to restore the practice of untouchability and follow the discriminatory Hindu code propounded by Manu. He is also preaching humans across the world to follow the heinous practice of untouchability,” Ram Prasad was quoted as saying by a section of media.

Demanding an apology from Jonnavithula through social media, Battula Ramprasad also insisted that the pet withdraw his comments expressed through the poem.