Nakkheeran warned over article on governor

Nirmala Devi never came to Raj Bhawan in the last one year and she does not have any acquaintance with Purohit or Rajagopal or any of the officers working there

Governor House

chennai — Threats to constitutional authorities like the governor will not be tolerated, the Raj Bhawan (governor house) said on Friday, criticising Tamil magazine Nakkheeran Editor R.R. Gopal for allegedly slandering the governor. “In a democracy there can be a healthy exchange of ideas. But no threats direct or indirect on a constitutional authority such as Governor will be tolerated,” a Raj Bhawan statement said. “The Raj Bhawan can and will never be cowed down by actions aimed at hurting the dignity of the High Office.”

The statement described as “absolute falsehood” links attributed between the governor and a college Assistant Professor of Aruppukottai, Nirmala Devi, who was arrested in a “sex-for-marks” scandal.

She is alleged to have lured girl students to provide sexual favours to senior officials of Madurai Kamaraj University. “The statement given by her before the police will itself bear out the truth,” the Raj Bhawan said.

On October 9, ‘Nakkheeran Gopal’ was arrested for publishing articles linking Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit and R. Rajagopal, Additional Chief Secretary to Governor, to the alleged scandal.

The police complaint was lodged by a Raj Bhawan official.

Gopal was slapped with Section 124 of the Indian Penal Code, which refers to assault on President or Governor to restrain them from exercising their lawful power. The court released Gopal saying the charge doesn’t warrant Section 124. “Every issue has its limits and Raj Bhawan was maintaining a dignified silence for more than six months since the law was taking its course” Raj Bhawan said.

The statement said it was shocking to see a resurfacing of yellow journalism in Nakkheeran in late September after the charge sheets had been filed and all investigation completed.

The Nakkheeran article was an example of “casualness and cowardice” and in breach of journalistic ethics, it said. According to Raj Bhawan, Nirmala Devi never came to Raj Bhawan in the last one year and she does not have any acquaintance with Purohit or Rajagopal or any of the officers working there. —