The Hindu : Tamil Nadu / Chennai News : <i>Murasoli</i> editor seeks discharge from case

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Wednesday, Dec 07, 2005

Tamil Nadu

Tamil Nadu - Chennai

Murasoli editor seeks discharge from case

Special Correspondent

Claims that the charge sheet was filed due to political compulsions

CHENNAI: Murasoli Editor S. Selvam, who has been cited as an accused along with DMK president M. Karunanidhi in a case of alleged outraging of religious feelings, on Tuesday moved a city court seeking discharge.

He submitted that the charge sheet was filed due to "political compulsions." Prosecutor R. Jeyaretnakumar took notice. The XVIII Metropolitan Magistrate, Saidapet, K. Gayathri, posted the matter to January 4 for filing of reply by the prosecution.

The charge sheet, for an offence under Section 295-A IPC, pertains to an article written by Mr. Karunanidhi in the DMK party organ on September 7, 2004. The allegation is that the article outraged Hindu religious sentiments.

The court had posted the case for Tuesday for questioning the accused. When the case was taken up, defence counsel R.S. Bharathi filed a petition under Section 239 Cr.P.C. on behalf of Mr. Selvam. Counsel sought adjournment for a longer period.

Mr. Selvam submitted the article was only a letter written by the newspaper founder (Mr. Karunanidhi) to the party cadres. For several years, he was addressing the cadres through such letters almost daily. It was basically a propagation of the party's ideals and meant to be read only by the cadres.

"The beginning and end of the article clearly establish that it is only a letter to the party cadres and not a news article or an article intended to be read by the general public."

The complainant had chosen to pick out a few lines from the letter without reference to the rest and used them out of context to form the basis of the case. There was no deliberate intention to outrage religious sentiments.

Mr. Karunanidhi was only trying to expound the ideals of the late E.V. Ramasami in the context of a message of the Chief Minister. Major portions of the letter were only a reproduction of what was published in other newspapers and books.

Ingredients of Sections 295 (A) IPC could not be applied to the case. The charges were totally groundless, the accused submitted and sought discharge.

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