D. Andrew Sam Raja Pandian (39) Founder and CEO of Simplicity news portal moved to the Madras High Court on Thursday to quash the FIR filed against him in connection with two news articles published in his portal.
Coimbatore: D Andrew Sam Raja Pandian (39) Founder and CEO of SimpliCity news portal moved the Madras High Court on Thursday to quash the FIR filed against him in connection with two news articles published in SimpliCity's portal.
The HC has given notice to the Inspector of the B2 Police Station and the Assistant Corporation Commissioner seeking explanation within four weeks.
Upon request by A. Natarajan, the State Public Prosecutor (PP), HC granted four weeks' time. In his argument, the PP stressed that as the petitioner had been granted bail, there was no urgency in hearing the plea to quash.
Meanwhile, senior advocate N. Ramesh who represented D Andrew SamRaja Pandian stated that the two news articles carried by the portal were based on the protests by the government medical college students and complaints from the public over pilferage in public distribution system.
"In the present case, the petitioner is the victim of a political vendetta. The Fundamental Right of the petitioner of freedom of speech and expression, as engrafted in Article 19(1)(a) of the Constitution of India, was squarely violated by the action of the police and as such, the FIR ought to be quashed", Senior Advovate Ramesh told in his argument which was held through video conferencing.
Court observed that any action pursuant to the FIR would be subject to the result of the quash petition & adjourned the case issuing notice to B2 police Inspector and Corporation AC to respond within 4 weeks.
The Case
The R.S. Puram police on April 23 arrested Andrew Sam Raja Pandian, in connection with two news articles.(shortcomings faced by government UG/PG professionals and corruption of a public distribution system (PDS) outlet. An official of the Coimbatore Corporation filed a complaint against him and alleged that the reports were 'false' and 'provocative' against the State Government following which, he was arrested for offences under Sections 188, 505 (i) of the IPC and Section 3 of the Epidemic Diseases Act.
He was lodged in Avinashi sub-jail and later released after his bail was granted on April 28.