Journalist Pavan Korada Accused of Sexual Coercion and Abuse by Multiple Women

In June 2026, multiple women accused journalist Pavan Korada, who operated across Telangana and Andhra Pradesh, of sexual coercion, abuse, violations of informed consent, financial exploitation, and intimidation. Following the allegations, at least two organizations, including the Human Rights Forum (HRF), publicly severed ties with him, while his employment with news outlet The Wire was also terminated.

Korada, who built a reputation as a progressive advocate and ally of marginalized communities in activist and civil society circles, is facing detailed accusations from several anonymous women. The accusers cited fears of social repercussions and retaliation for their decision to remain anonymous.

According to reports, the Indian School of Democracy (ISD) and the HRF publicly cut ties with Korada. ISD confirmed he worked there as a full-time team member between August 2023 and June 2024, while HRF had a long-standing informal association with him. Additionally, the women stated that The Wire ended Korada's employment on April 30.

Four women shared their accounts, revealing recurring patterns of behavior. Several women described violations of informed consent, alleging that Korada engaged in deception regarding concurrent intimate relationships.

One accuser, referred to as Anjali, stated she contracted a health infection during her relationship with Korada, which she attributed to his undisclosed sexual activity with other women. Another accuser, referred to as Avni, stated that Korada insisted on unprotected sex without disclosing his concurrent relationships.

A collective statement titled "Women harmed by Pavan Korada" was submitted to The Wire, detailing a pattern of harmful conduct spanning from 2018 to the present.

Another accuser, referred to as Radhika, alleged that Korada used physical intimidation, verbal threats, and aggressive behavior when she tried to raise concerns. She also accused him of making degrading, objectifying, and misogynistic remarks about women in activist and journalistic spaces.

The women also raised concerns regarding Korada's claims about his caste identity. They alleged he made contradictory claims, telling some women he was Dalit and others he was Yadav, a Backwards Classes (BC) community. Furthermore, they alleged he weaponized his caste position against Savarna women to evade personal accountability for his actions.