RR Gopal, a veteran journalist of Nakkeeran magazine was released by a local court hours after his arrest. He was produced before the 13th Egmore Metropolitan Magistrate Gopinath, who refused to grant his remand and questioned the validity of the IPC section.
 
“According to the FIR filed by Chennai Police, 35 Nakkeeran workers have been booked under Section 124 IPC, including editor in-charge Kovai Lenin, chief deputy editor Aaraavayal, 14 reporters and 10 administrative staff. Gopal was taken for a medical check-up, before being produced before the magistrate,” reported Indian Express.
 
“During the hearing, the court also allowed senior journalist N Ram to speak on behalf of the media, along with Gopal’s lawyers. His counsel argued that Section 124 was invalid in the case, and said the arrest set a bad precedent as it dragged the Governor’s office into an ugly controversy,” the report said.
 
Outside the court, Gopal defended the magazine’s report and vowed to continue with the probe. He accused the government of curtailing the freedom of the press.
 
“This release is a great hope for freedom of expression and freedom of the press. Nakkeeran’s work will continue,” said Gopal in the report, who hit the headlines in the 1990s when he did a series of interviews with forest brigand Veerappan, and later acted as his mediator.
 
Gopal was arrested early Tuesday Morning at Chennai Airport due to a complaint from Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s office. The police are reportedly filling a defamation or sedition case against him.
 
He was arrested for publishing an article against TN governor Purohit which involved a ‘sex scandal’ where an assistant professor was reportedly ‘luring and supplying’ young girls to senior officials in another university.

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Tamil journalist Nakkeeran Gopal arrested for article against governor

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Chennai: Veteran Tamil journalist R R Gopal, the editor of Tamil bi-weekly ‘Nakkeeran,’ was arrested by the Chennai City Police on Tuesday morning, reportedly on a complaint from Governor Banwarilal Purohit’s office.
 
Gopal was arrested early morning at Chennai Airport and he was scheduled to fly to Pune for an event. The police are reportedly filling a defamation or sedition case against him.
 
Police sources said Gopal has been booked under section 124 of the Indian Penal Code (IPC) or on charges of preventing the president and governor from discharging their duties.
 
He has been arrested for publishing an article against TN governor Purohit which involved a ‘sex scandal’ where an assistant professor was reportedly ‘luring and supplying’ young girls to senior officials in another university.
 
“Nakkeeran has published a cover photo in its current edition of the governor and assistant professor Nirmala Devi, who was arrested on charges of attempting to lure college girls for extending sexual favours to senior officials of the leading Madurai Kamaraj University. Devi, an assistant professor at the Devanga Arts College in Aruppukottai of Virudhunagar district, was arrested in April last year after an audio clip of her purported conversation with her students was shared on social media. She was also heard claiming in the clip that she has close contact with the governor and senior officials,” reported Hindustan Times.
 
“Nakkheeran also alleged in its report that Devi, who is under the custody of the crime investigation department’s crime branch, has said she met the governor four times. The governor is the chancellor of Madurai Kamaraj University to which the Devanga Arts College is affiliated. Purohit has denied the allegations and said he does not know Devi,” the report said.
 
Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam chief Vaiko was detained on Tuesday when he tried to enter Chintadripet police station where Gopal is being held, ANI reported. “I sought permission to meet him but police are not allowing me,” Vaiko told reporters outside the police station. “This arrest shows the threatening attitude of the authorities towards independent journalists. Is there governor’s rule in the state? I blame the state government.”
 

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