Southern States - Tamil Nadu

Magazine editor asked to approach High Court

By Our Legal Correspondent

NEW DELHI June 17. The Supreme Court bench while hearing today a petition from the Editor of the Tamil bi-weekly, Nakkeeran, R.R. Gopal, said ``we are of the opinion that since the petitioner could approach the High Court, this court is not called upon to entertain this petition under Article 32 of the Constitution. Writ petition dismissed''.

In his petition, Mr. Gopal sought a direction to restrain the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Governments from proceeding with the investigation of the case against him and his staff or reporters. He submitted that after the Kannada cine actor, Rajkumar, was kidnapped in July 2000, both the Karnataka and Tamil Nadu Governments requested him to act as their official emissary for securing the release of the actor.

Both the Governments promised him in writing that he and his team members would not be called upon to adduce evidence in any future criminal cases connected with the abduction. They also promised not to proceed against Mr. Gopal and his associates. And only thereafter he agreed to be the emissary.

However, Mr. Gopal submitted that contrary to this assurance and promise, the Tamil Nadu Government had falsely implicated him in the `kidnap case'.

He said that on May 28 the special investigation cell issued summons directing him to appear within 10 days for interrogation at Thalavadi police station for a period of 15 days.

He said he apprehended imminent danger to his life and personal liberty and his appearance before the Cell would also affect his journalistic work.

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