In what could be called a setback for actor and BJP functionary S. Ve. Shekher, the Madras High Court on Saturday refused to pass interim orders preventing Greater Chennai police from arresting him for sharing a derogatory Facebook post against women journalists. The High Court has permitted him to move any of the vacation court and seek anticipatory bail if required.
Shekher had approached the court seeking advance bail in a case booked against him by the Cyber Crime Cell of the Central Crime Branch, Chennai. He had shared a derogatory post saying women journalists, “sleep around to get top posts,” on his Facebook page on April 19. Calling his post as, “Madurai University, Governor and virgin woman’s cheeks,” Shekhar wrote a three-page derogatory post against women in media. Following the post, the journalists union and THE WEEK’s correspondent had lodged separate complaints against Shekher with Central Crime Branch, Chennai on April 20. The CCB registered an FIR against Shekher under women harassment act.
On April 23, Shekher approached the court, seeking advance bail. In an affidavit filed he claimed to have shared the Facebook post inadvertently without reading it. “It has put me to mental anguish and I am totally upset. I don’t endorse the views expressed in the said message since I am also from a family that respects women and women journalists,” he said.