Telugu actress Sowmya Janu faces backlash after being captured on video assaulting a police officer, an incident that has sparked widespread criticism on social media platforms.
The altercation, which included Janu ripping the officer’s clothes, came to light following her engagement in a heated dispute with the officer after being halted for driving on the incorrect side of the road in Hyderabad’s Banjara Hills, as reported by DNA India.
The contentious video reveals Janu in a verbal exchange with the officer, during which she acknowledges her mistake yet attempts to justify her actions. The footage further depicts her shouting at and physically assaulting the traffic police personnel for preventing her from driving her Jaguar in the wrong direction, leading to her tearing his uniform and seizing his phone.
Eyewitnesses attempted to calm the situation, which only seemed to exacerbate Janu’s aggressive behaviour. This act of defiance against a law enforcement officer drew sharp criticism from online communities, prompting calls for stern legal action.
In response to the incident, authorities have charged Sowmya Janu under Section 353 of the Indian Penal Code, addressing assault or criminal force to deter a public servant from discharge of his duty, and Section 183 of the Motor Vehicles Act, concerning dangerous driving.
