Actor Kasturi Shankar was arrested by the Tamil Nadu police on Saturday in Hyderabad over her remarks against Telugu speaking people living in Tamil Nadu. Earlier reports surfaced that Shankar had gone missing after a complaint was filed against her and several social media users claimed she might have gotten away.

A video that the actor recorded before she was arrested has surfaced.

Kasturi recorded a video on an associate’s phone to address the rumours. “I did not run or hide. I was at my home in Hyderabad finishing the shoot. I fully cooperated with the authorities,” Kasturi said in the video.

She also clarified that she gave her phone to her lawyer to avoid distraction and was unaware of the rumours.

“I saw a smear campaign claiming that I ran away. It is false. Just for the record, I am cooperating,” she said while being escorted by the Egmore police.

Before getting into the police vehicle, Kasturi chanted, “This arrest is the result of a political vendetta. Let the truth prevail.”

Shankar is currently lodged in Chennai’s Puzhal Jail. A further investigation into the case is ongoing.

The case, which was first filed by Telugu association members in Tamil Nadu, alleges that the actor made divisive comments during a protest on November 3.

“The Telugu-speaking community came as assistants to the king’s consort and later adopted a Tamil identity,” the Tamil Nadu Telugu association had alleged in a complaint.

Responding to the complaint, the actor later issued a public apology.

Despite his apology, the Tamil Nadu police filed a case under four sections of the Bharatiya Nagarik Suraksha Sanhita (BNSS). Shankar filed a petition in the Madras High Court seeking anticipatory bail, which the court rejected.