The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted interim protection from arrest to Bharatiya Janata Party leader S Ve Shekher who had shared a Facebook post with derogatory remarks about female journalists, reported PTI. The court also issued a notice to Tamil Nadu asking the state not to take any coercive action against the petitioner till the next hearing on June 1, reported Bar & Bench.
Shekher had approached the Madras High Court on April 24 seeking anticipatory bail in a case registered with the Cyber Crime Cell of the Central Crime Branch in Chennai. On May 10, the High Court rejected Shekher’s bail plea.
A bench of Justices AM Khanwilkar and Navin Sinha directed Tamil Nadu to respond to Shekher’s plea challenging the May 10 order of the Madras High Court.
The Tamil Nadu Journalist and Protection Association had filed a police complaint after Shekher shared a Facebook post on April 19 titled, “Madurai University, Governor and the Virgin Cheeks of a Girl”, from the account of a user named Thirumalai S, about Governor Banwarilal Purohit patting a journalist on her cheek during a press conference.
“Recent complaints show that they [journalists] cannot become reporters or anchors without sleeping with big shots,” the post read, according to NDTV.
Buy an annual Scroll Membership to support independent journalism and get special benefits.
Our journalism is for everyone. But you can get special privileges by buying an annual Scroll Membership. Sign up today!