Honey trap: Channel CEO, eight suspects fail to appear before SIT
The SIT had filed an FIR against the CEO and others for conspiring to conduct the sting operation and for violating broadcasting norms.
FollowEven a day after the Special Investigation Team (SIT) served notice to Mangalam News CEO and eight others in connection with the sting operation against former Transport Minister AK Saseendran, the television officials named in the FIR failed to appear before the investigation officers. It is learned that channel CEO R Ajith Kumar and others are planning to file anticipatory bail on Monday.
The SIT had filed an FIR against the CEO and others for conspiring to conduct the sting operation and for violating broadcasting norms. The police had demanded the channel officials to produce the equipment to conduct the sting operation, including the mobile phones and editing devices. Though the SIT identified the key suspect who trapped the former minister, she is reportedly absconding.
State Police Chief Loknath Behra said on Sunday that the investigation would be impartial but stern, suggesting that the police might arrest the accused in the case if they failed to appear before the SIT.
Mangalam New CEO had extended an apology on the other day admitting that it was a sting operation using a woman journalist. The channel had earlier claimed that AK Saseendran engaged in a lewd phone talk with a woman who approached the former minister seeking help. The channel had come under criticism from various corners for resorting to honey-trap journalism.
The state government had also constituted a judicial probe into the sleaze talk scandal that claimed the ministry berth of senior NCP leader AK Saseendran.
