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Nakkheeran editor arrested for article ‘defaming’ Governor Banwarilal Purohit

R. Gopal, 59, was booked for “sedition” under Section 124 A of the Indian Penal Code.

Nakkheeran editor arrested for article ‘defaming’ Governor Banwarilal Purohit

Nakkheeran editor R Gopal (Photo: Twitter | @nakkheeranweb)

A well-known editor of a Tamil weekly was Tuesday arrested here while on his way to Pune, airport officials said.

Senior journalist R Gopal, who heads the vernacular ‘Nakkheeran’, was picked up by a police team from the airport, they said.

The weekly’s website claimed Gopal was arrested based on a complaint Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s office over a write-up on Nirmala Devi, an assistant professor of a private college in Virudhunagar who had been arrested for allegedly prodding girl students to extend sexual favours to officials.

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According to reports, Gopal, 59, was booked for “sedition” under Section 124 A of the Indian Penal Code. He has been accused of defaming the Governor.

The Nakkheeran story which was published last month criticised the Governor’s alleged involvement in the sex scandal case.

There was no immediate confirmation from police officials on the reason behind Gopal’s arrest, even as officials in Raj Bhavan could not be reached for a comment.

The woman, Nirmala Devi was arrested on April 16 after an audio clip in which she purportedly told some girl students “to adjust with some officials” for higher marks and money went viral on the social media.

The assistant professor was working with the Devanga Arts College in Aruppukottai, affiliated to the Madurai Kamaraj University (MKU).

She was suspended after the scandal came to light.

(With PTI inputs)

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