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.
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.”