Kashmir Remark Row: No FIR Ordered Against Kerala MLA KT Jaleel, Clarifies Delhi Court; Media Persons Undertake To Publish Apology For Misreporting

A Delhi Court on Wednesday clarified that it has not summoned Kerala MLA K.T. Jaleel over his remarks made on Kashmir on social media platform Facebook a couple of months ago.

Additional Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Harjeet Singh Jaspal of Rouse Avenue Courts, who was dealing with a complaint case filed by Advocate G.S. Mani, said that the matter had not even reached the stage of summoning itself.

"To begin with it is made abundantly clear that this court has not summoned the accused K.T. Jaleel as yet, nor has it reached the stage of summoning itself. The matter is pending for orders on an application u/s 156 (3) Cr.PC. It is further made clear that till the time the order on the said application is passed, no opinion on merits has been placed on record," the Court clarified.

Advocate Subhash Chandran K.R., appearing on behalf of Jaleel, informed the Court that he got the knowledge of the proceedings after reading media reports in Malaylam Daily Newspaper, Matrabhumi and Malayalam Manorama, including other e-newspapers such as Matrabhumi, and Asia Net.

The counsel further submitted that the said Newspapers and media portals had specifically reported that the court had allowed registration of FIR against K.T. Jaleel.

On the other hand, complainant Mani informed the Court that it was a bonafide mistake and that he never intended the newspapers to believe that FIR had been been ordered, thereby apologising for the same.

During the course of hearing today, media persons from various newspapers were present the Court including Matrabhumi News, 24 Twenty Four, The Malyalam Channel, Amrita Television, Asia Net News and MMTV Manorama News.

They were :

i) Arun Shankar S., Chief Reporter, Matrubhumi News

ii) Balram Nedungadi, Chief Reporter, 24 Twenty Four

iii) Vishnu J.S., Broadcast Journalist, The Malayalam Channel

iv) Adarsh T.S., Senior Reporter, Amrita Television

v) Vaisakh K., Senior Reporter, Asianet News

vi) Anoop P.B., Senior Correspondent, MMTV Manorama News

The said media persons therefore submitted that they would publish a corrigendum or apology for incorrect media reporting.

"In view of the submissions made the court deems it appropriate to defer the matter until 16.09.2022," the Court ordered.

On September 6, an Action Taken Report was received from Delhi police submitting that a complaint was already submitted to the Deputy Commissioner of Police Cyber Cell Unit, Special Cell.

The ATR further submitted that a Session Court in Kerala's Pathanamthitta District had ordered the police to register a case against KT Jaleel over his controversial remarks on Jammu & Kashmir and Pakistan Occupied Kashmir.

It was also submitted that the Court in Pathanamthitta District's Thiruvalla had issued the direction while considering a petition moved by RSS leader Arun Mohan, seeking legal action against K.T. Jaleel for his anti-national remarks.

Title: G.S. Mani Vs. Commissioner of Police Delhi & Ors.

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