After an eight-member Kerala police team conducted searches of the Asianet news office as part of its ongoing investigation into the telecast of an alleged "fake" news report about the sexual assault of a girl in November 2022, the Opposition Congress staged a walkout from the state assembly on Monday and passed an adjournment motion to discuss the matter as well.

Moving the adjournment motion, Congress legislator P C Vishnunadh said the police action on the channel was “a well-planned and targeted” after it broke several stories against the ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist) in Kannur, it’s north Kerala stronghold.

“The raid on media office was never heard of in the state. This is nothing but intimidating tactics to silence the channel,” Vishnunadh said. He alleged that it was an attack on “press freedom” and those who shed enough tears about the income tax raid on the BBC office in Delhi were silent now.

On other hand, Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan on Monday defended the police action against Asianet News, telling the Kerala Assembly that the issue of freedom of press cannot be brought into it.

“The occupation of a person is not a factor while taking legal action against an individual who is involved in a criminal activity. The law does not allow it,” the CM said, replying to the notice for an adjournment motion moved by Congress.

Speaker A N Shamseer denied permission for an adjournment motion on the police case. The police action was on the basis of a petition filed by left front MLA P V Anvar.

Three journalists of Asianet News are facing a POCSO case while its regional office in Kozhikode was raided by the police on Sunday over an alleged fake news item, following a complaint by CPI(M)-backed MLA P V Anwar.

BJP MP and Union minister of state Rajeev Chandrasekhar has investment stake in Asianet. Activists of the SFI, the students’ wing of the CPI(M), had also barged into the Asianet News office in Kochi.

Pinarayi said the production of a fake video and telecasting it cannot be called journalism. “After entrapping a minor girl in a video, seeking protection of journalism is not courageous journalism,” he said.

Image source: PTI