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Provide police protection to Asianet News if the channel seeks assistance: Kerala HC

A group of 30 SFI members entered the Asianet News regional office in Kochi, forced their way past security guards, and interfered in press operations by yelling slogans and also threatening the staff members and journalists on Friday evening.

Statesman News Service | Kochi | March 8, 2023 11:28 pm

Provide police protection to Asianet News if the channel seeks assistance: Kerala HC

Kerala High Court [File Photo]

The Kerala High Court on Wednesday directed the state government that the units of Malayalam news channel, Asianet News should be granted effective police protection, if the channel requests the same in view of the recent protests against it by the activists of Students Federation of India (SFI), the students wing of CPI-M.

A single judge bench of Justice N Nagaresh said that an incident relating to alleged fake news telecast by the channel has attained political colour and there is likelihood of further protests and violence against the channel.Hence, the court directed the police to deploy sufficient personnel ,if the news channel seeks police protection.

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The order came on a plea moved by Asianet News, seeking police protection after some activists of the SFI had forcibly entered the channel’s office in Ernakulam and raised slogans in protest.

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The channel is facing protests over allegations that in November 2022 it aired a staged interview in which a minor girl was made to say that she was a victim of drug abuse and sexual exploitation.

The channel had approached the High Court alleging that a group of nearly 30 activists of the Students Federation of India (SFI), the students wing of CPI-M violently and forcefully trespassed into its office at Kochi and intimidated the staff on March 3, 2023.

A group of  30 SFI members entered the Asianet News regional office in Kochi, forced their way past security guards, and interfered in press operations by yelling slogans and also threatening the staff members and journalists on Friday evening.

The Kerala Police on Sunday conducted a raid at the  Kozhikode office of  the popular Malayalam news channel Asianet News

The raid was carried out on the basis of a complaint filed by Left independent MLA P V Anvar, who accused the channel of conducting a fake interview as part of its series titled “Narcotics is a dirty business” last November.

Police registered a case against four persons including journalists of Asianet News on the complaint of filming fake scenes. The case is  registered against K Shahjahan and Naufal Bin Yusuf and two others,under charges of POCSO, forgery and conspiracy.

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The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010. A division bench comprising Justice Raja Vijayaraghavan and Justice P V Balakrishnan suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail to him after considering his appeal against the NIA court’s conviction in the case Considering the prolonged detention and citing the potential for trial delays, the court suspended Nasar’s sentence and granted conditional bail, taking into account that some co-accused with similar allegations had already been released after serving shorter terms. The court noted that he had already spent nine years in jail and that delays in resolving appeals could justify suspending a convict’s prison term. It also observed that other accused in the case had received lesser sentences and had already been released after serving their terms. “The applicant has been undergoing incarceration, at the pre-conviction and post-conviction phases, for over 9 years. Furthermore, the fact that the accused facing the same allegations were earlier imposed a lesser term of imprisonment and have been released after having undergone the sentence is a factor that cannot be ignored. Additionally, the appeals filed by the NIA against the findings of the learned Sessions Judge are being considered in separate appeals, which have not yet been taken up. “There is also the likelihood of delay, as the prime accused has surrendered, and the learned Sessions Judge may have to take up the trial and dispose of it in accordance with the law and some of the original records may be required for that purpose. In view of these facts and circumstances, we are of the considered opinion that the sentence imposed on the applicant can be suspended pending the consideration of the appeal.” The court said The court, however, imposed strict conditions for Nasar’s bail. He is not supposed to provide a bond of Rs 1 lakh with two sureties, refrain from leaving the country without the court’s permission, avoid interfering with the trial or witnesses, and not commit similar offences while on bail The gruesome incident dates back to July 4, 2010, when Joseph, a professor at Newman College, Thodupuzha, was returning from Sunday mass with his family, members of the now-banned Popular Front of India (PFI) attacked him, allegedly in retaliation for a question paper he set, which contained a passage that they claimed insulted Prophet Mohammed was derogatory. His right hand was chopped off in this attack. Nasar was accused of playing a critical role in the attack. Investigations revealed his involvement in recruiting gang members, assigning specific tasks, collecting funds, procuring communication devices, and maintaining communication links with key conspirators.

The Kerala High Court, on Thursday, granted bail to M K Nasar, one of the individuals convicted by the special NIA court last year in the case of chopping the hands of Professor T J Joseph in 2010.