The Supreme Court on Friday strongly criticised a Kerala-based journalist for allegedly publishing a defamatory video targeting a prominent woman politician on his YouTube channel “Crime Online.” The top court took exception to the use of online platforms for making baseless accusations and attempting to influence public opinion on judicial matters.
A bench comprising Justices B V Nagarathna and K V Viswanathan rebuked the journalist, Nandakumar T.P., remarking, “You want to convict people based on your YouTube videos? Conviction or acquittal doesn’t happen based on a YouTube video. Courts do that.”
Urging for more responsible content creation, the bench added, “Say some nice things on YouTube. Why do you put this crime online, etc.? Something nice happening in Kerala, God’s own country, speak about that.”
Despite the stern observations, the bench granted an extension of interim protection from arrest to Nandakumar, who has approached the apex court seeking anticipatory bail.
Nandakumar faces serious charges under the newly introduced Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (BNS), including offences relating to outraging the modesty of a woman, criminal intimidation, and intent to cause reputational harm. He has also been booked under Section 67 of the Information Technology Act, which pertains to the publication or transmission of obscene content in electronic form.
The Kerala Police has alleged that a video posted by the journalist contained derogatory, sexually explicit, and threatening content intended to humiliate and defame the woman political leader.
Earlier, the Kerala High Court had refused to grant anticipatory bail to Nandakumar on June 9 and directed him to surrender before the police. Challenging this decision, the journalist moved the Supreme Court, which has now taken the matter under consideration while extending his interim relief.
