The Telangana High Court on Wednesday expressed displeasure over the slow pace trial in the criminal cases against for Andhra Pradesh Ex-Chief Minister Y.S. Jagan Mohan Reddy and others in the cases filed by the CBI and the ED related to Jagan Mohan Reddy`s disproportionate assets case.

A minor girl in Hyderabad was raped by a group of boys in a luxury car on May 28, and the police have now registered an FIR in the case. The girl attended a party at the Amnesia & Insomnia pub in Jubilee Hills, hosted by two of her friends.

Disrobed, beaten, chilli powder smeared on face’: Tribal woman rescued after days of ‘torture’ at Telangana farm Officials say woman was working as a bonded labourer, was tortured when she tried to leave; Deputy CM promises to help her

Freedom - The very word evokes images of brave souls. But, let's face it, "freedom" often takes on a rather... unique meaning, quite contradictory in fact.

While our freedom fighters fought for liberation from colonial chains, it seems some of us have discovered a newfound freedom - the freedom to oppress, to exploit, to unleash the worst of human nature.

The Freedom to Amass Wealth

Here’s a man who took the concept of "freedom" and gave it a whole new meaning. Freedom fighters once dreamt of economic equality, a land where everyone could stand shoulder to shoulder, not where one stands on the shoulders of many. But Jagan, bless his ambition, has shown us that freedom isn't just about breaking chains; it’s about forging golden ones. Disproportionate assets? Quid pro quo deals? Why not? When power offers you a canvas, you paint it with wealth, of course.

The Freedom to Escape Justice

The freedom to slip through the cracks of justice—a privilege reserved for the few, the influential, the well-connected. Take the Hyderabad Amnesia Pub incident, for example. A night of revelry turned into a nightmare for a young woman, but for the culprits, it was just another night out, wasn’t it? Why face the consequences when you can bask in the glow of your family's power?

The Freedom to Perpetuate Injustice

Here’s the recent case of a 27-year-old tribal woman where she was brutally assaulted, her cries for help echoing in the wilderness of societal indifference. The freedom some people have to inflict such horror is truly astounding, isn't it? Particularly against those already marginalized, shoved to the edges of society.

Then comes the legal dance, a sluggish waltz where justice often stumbles and falls. Delays, compromises, a system creaking under the weight of its own flaws. Meanwhile, our victim? Her "freedom" to live with dignity is a cruel joke. The scars run deep, the trauma a constant companion. In this "free" society, her voice is barely a whisper, lost in the cacophony of apathy.

Is this freedom?

As we gather to celebrate another Independence Day, it’s worth pondering just what this cherished "freedom" has come to represent. Is it the freedom to amass wealth at the cost of integrity, to escape justice with the right connections, or to perpetuate injustice without consequence? All the above incidents point to a redefinition of freedom that’s far removed from what our freedom fighters envisioned. Is this the freedom we were meant to inherit? Or have we simply rebranded it to suit the powerful? As we wave our flags, perhaps it’s time to question what they truly stand for.