Kadakampally Surendran’s Lawyer Slams Media for “Incorrect” Reporting on Defamation Case Against VD Satheesan

Thiruvananthapuram: Advocate Rajagopalan Nair, lawyer for Kadakampally Surendran MLA, has said that the news aired by Manorama News and some other media outlets regarding the defamation case filed by Kadakampally Surendran against Opposition Leader VD Satheesan in connection with the Sabarimala gold theft case is factually incorrect. He said he strongly objects to the broadcast of news that misleads the court and the judicial system.

He stated that despite several months having passed since V.D. Satheesan made baseless allegations, he has repeatedly claimed to possess evidence but has failed to produce even a single piece of evidence either before the court or in the public domain. Instead, he has continued with personal attacks. In this context, an additional petition was filed before the court seeking to restrain Satheesan from making further statements until he produces evidence. Arguments had commenced on this petition.

The court was informed that defamation is a criminal offence and that the court has no authority to allow the repetition of a criminal act while the case is pending. It was submitted that arguments in the main defamation case could begin only if the court restrained Satheesan from making further statements or if Satheesan gave an assurance to the court that he would not repeat such statements.

Following this, Satheesan’s advocate stated that he would consult his client and submit a response. Accordingly, the court adjourned the case to the 18th of this month. The court also indicated that if Satheesan does not provide a written assurance that he will not repeat the statements, detailed arguments on the issue could be heard the following day.

While this was the actual sequence of events in court, Manorama News and some other media outlets reported contrary versions of the proceedings, the advocate said. He demanded that the media clarify the source of such information. When his office contacted Satheesan’s lawyer, they were told that only what transpired in court had been conveyed to VD Satheesan and that they were unaware of the incorrect report aired by Manorama.

Reporting events that did not occur in court amounts to a challenge to the judicial system, Rajagopalan Nair said, demanding that Manorama News and other media outlets immediately correct the report and issue an apology.