Hyderabad, Sept. 18 -- Bharat Rashtra Samithi (BRS) deputy leader and former minister T Harish Rao has filed a criminal defamation petition against Telangana Pradesh Congress Committee (TPCC) president B Mahesh Kumar Goud and Congress MLC Addanki Dayakar over allegations linking him to black magic and occult practices.

Harish Rao approached the Nampally court after the Congress leaders did not issue a public apology.

The Congress leaders had alleged that Harish Rao visited temples in Karnataka and performed occult rituals to stop rains in Telangana.

Rejecting the allegations, Harish Rao said his religious beliefs were being used for political purposes to harm his reputation and political image.

Harish Rao sent legal notices

Demanding...