The Supreme Court on Tuesday provided actor-turned-politician S.Ve. Shekher interim protection from arrest till June 1 for allegedly sharing a Facebook post containing derogatory references about the media and women journalists.
A vacation Bench of Justices A.M. Khanwilkar and Navin Sinha said no coercive action should be taken against Mr. Shekher till the Tamil Nadu government filed its response on the issue.
The BJP leader had appealed against the Madras High Court order on May 10 refusing him the relief of anticipatory bail in the case .
Mr. Shekher said he had no role, except forwarding the post, of which he had not even read the contents. He said his action of forwarding the post was based on a “bona fide impression and over-confidence”.
An FIR was registered against him by the Cyber Crime cell for various offences, including insult intended to provoke breach of peace, gesture and words intended to insult the modesty of a woman and other charges under provisions of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women Harassment Act.
He had claimed in the High Court that the case was anchored to baseless allegations. He had also said there was no intention on his part to defame or hurt anyone.
