The sudden arrest of Nakkeeran editor R Gopal on Tuesday for allegedly publishing a defamatory article against Tamilnadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit has triggered a huge furore in Tamilnadu media and political circles. Gopal was arrested under Section 124 of IPC (Assaulting President, Governor, etc., with intent to compel or restrain the exercise of any lawful power). And he was freed later in the day by a court which cited that filing case against him under the section was inappropriate.
As pointed out by media associations, it is open to the police or government to file a case against any journalist or media organisation if they feel a particular news story or column is defamatory. But to arrest a journalist as a first step of the investigation is uncalled-for. That, too, the manner in which Gopal was arrested (he was picked up by a special team of police personnel when he was in Chennai airport to board a flight to Pune) seems to be unnecessary.
The police could have taken this step if Gopal failed to appear after their summons. As expected, the Opposition parties utilised the opportunity well to launch a tirade against the police and government. With already the Central and State governments facing huge criticism for ‘acting against free speech and expression’, the arrest of Gopal has added more fuel to the fire. Such arrests tend to undermine democratic norms in the country and go against the principles of free speech and expression which are guaranteed under the Constitution. At the same time, media houses, too, should be responsible about what they publish and air. They should not do whatever they want to just for the sake of sensationalism.