In a setback for actor and BJP functionary S. Ve. Shekher, the Madras High Court on Thursday denied him an anticipatory bail for sharing a derogatory Facebook post against women journalists.
Observing that a message forwarded on social media is equal to acceptance and endorsement of the same, Justice S. Ramathilagam said S. Ve. Shekher's action sets a bad precedent for the society.
“What is said is important but who has said it is very important in a society because people respect persons for the social status. When a celebrity forwards a message like this, the common people will start to believe it," Ramathilagam noted. “This would send a wrong message to the society at a time when we are talking about women empowerment. The language and words used are not indirect but a direct abusive foul language which is not expected from a person of his calibre and age.”
Earlier on April 28, the Madras High Court had refused to pass interim orders preventing Greater Chennai police from arresting S. Ve. Shekher in the same incident.
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.