Hyderabad: Telangana BJP president N Ramchander Rao has served a legal notice to Deputy Chief Minister Mallu Bhatti Vikramarka over his recent remarks allegedly implicating Rao in the 2016 suicide of University of Hyderabad scholar Rohith Vemula.

In the notice, issued on Tuesday, Ramchander Rao demanded an unconditional apology from Vikramarka within three days of receiving the communication, warning of legal consequences if he fails to comply.

The BJP leader has sought ₹25 lakh in damages and threatened appropriate criminal action should the Deputy CM not withdraw his “false accusations”.

“Your (Vikramarka) illegal and unlawful actions of making false statements against my client are ex-facie defamatory in nature and shall attract penal consequences since the same were made with a malafide intention to de-repute the character of our client by calling him responsible for suicide of Late Sri Rohith Vemula,” the notice stated.

The document also pointed out that police investigations, including examination of nearly 59 witnesses and critical evidence regarding the caste status of Rohith Vemula and Rao’s alleged involvement, concluded that Rao did not abet the suicide.

A senior advocate and longtime ABVP functionary, Ramchander Rao took charge as the Telangana BJP president on July 1, succeeding Union Minister G Kishan Reddy.

The Congress had sharply criticised the BJP's decision, saying Rao’s appointment sent a message that those who “go against Dalits and Adivasis will be rewarded” by the party.

On July 11, Bhatti Vikramarka had stated that Vemula’s suicide had deeply impacted the nation, sparking reflection on the prevailing political climate under the BJP.

He had alleged that Rao, who was an MLC at the time, "arrived at the university with his goons”, staged a protest, met the vice-chancellor and exerted pressure on the administration to act against Ambedkar Students' Association (ASA) members through a fabricated case.

It may be noted that in 2023, the Telangana Police filed a closure report in the case, exonerating all accused, including Ramchander Rao.