Sources at News Tamil 24x7 confirmed to South First that the reporter in question, Sudharshan, has been terminated from service.
Screengrab of women being hounded by cameramen after exiting a pub in Chennai. (X)
The Chennai City Police have registered a case against six people, including a television reporter, on the charges of harassment and obscene remarks against women who were leaving a pub in Chennai’s Nandanam area.
The case was registered based on a complaint by one of the women at the pub.
According to the police, on 19 November, a group of youngsters came to Big Bull Lounge at 11.30 pm, the bar’s closing time, and entered into an altercation with the bouncers who weren’t permitting them inside.
When the staff refused entry, the youngsters created a ruckus and informed one Sudharshan, a reporter with News Tamil 24×7, a leading news satellite channel in the state. According to police, the gang was known to Sudharshan and the reporter, who was on night duty, took his camera crew and reached the pub.
Sudharshan also informed other media persons that the bar was supplying drugs and functioning beyond the allotted time.
A few reporters and cameramen arrived at the spot and started filming the women who were leaving the pub and also made indecent remarks about their attire. The women objected to it. The news report was aired the next day with explicit comments against the women.
Following this, two online complaints were launched with the city police. The complaints were forwarded to the Saidapet police for further action.
Based on the complaints, the Saidapet police registered an FIR under Sections 143 (unlawful assembly), 341 (punishment for wrongful restraint), 294(b) (sings, recites or utters any obscene song, ballad or words, in or near any public place), 354A (sexual harassment), 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of Indian Penal Code, and Section 4 (intention of causing death or of causing such bodily injury as is likely to cause death) of the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Woman Act, 1998.
Sources in the city commissionarate told South First that the CCTV footage and the news clips telecast by the TV news channels were analysed and the suspects who created the ruckus were identified.
“Upon thorough investigation, the police found that the television reporter was also instigating the situation to become worse. The Commissioner of Police was particular that the culprits should be booked and law will take its own course in the case,” the officer said.
The officer also stated that efforts are being made to arrest all the accused in the case and a team has been formed for this purpose.
Meanwhile, sources at News Tamil 24×7 confirmed to South First that the reporter in question, Sudharshan, has been terminated from service.
The sources said that an internal inquiry was launched by the management and that the reporter had given an explanation that he went to the spot following information from a source, while he was at home.
“Since an FIR has been filed, he was dismissed today (Friday, 24 November),” the source added.
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