The Judicial First Class Magistrate Court, Vaikom, has issued a directive to the police to register a crime and initiative investigation against three news channels on a criminal miscellanies petition (CMP) alleging airing of obscene visuals. The directive from Judicial First Class Magistrate Prabhash Lal comes against the CMP filed by Ambarish G. Vasu, of Parvanam House, Vaikom, seeking criminal proceedings against the airing of uncensored video clippings in connection with the news story on charges against Jose Thettayil, MLA.
The complaint named Manorama News, Mathrubhumi News, and Asianet News channels.
The court directed the police to proceed against the seven respondents mentioned in the complaint. They include managing directors and news editors of the three channels and also the producer of the news-based programme ‘FIR’ aired by the Asianet news channel.
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The complaint sought action against the channels under relevant sections of the Indian Penal code, IT Act, and the Indecent Representation of Woman (Prohibition) Act. According to the Vaikom police, a case has been registered under CrPC section 156 (3). A First Information report (FIR) would be filed on Thursday, they said.
Quit as MLA: KPCC
Special Correspondent writes from Thiruvananthapuram: Kerala Pradesh Congress Committee president Ramesh Chennithala has demanded the resignation of former Minister Jose Thettayil consequent to the police registering a case against him.
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Mr. Chennithala said Mr. Thettayil did not have the moral right to continue as a legislator in the light of the police Cyber Cell’s deduction that the visuals of the alleged sexual harassment by him were not doctored as he had claimed.
He wondered why the Communist Party of India (Marxist) leadership was reluctant to seek Mr. Thettayil’s resignation contrary to their record of running campaigns for action in sexual harassment cases.