Thiruvananthapuram: Five journalists in Kerala, all working with the same news channel, have been arrested by the police in connection with "honey-trapping" a minister who resigned last week over an obscene phone call. Eight journalists who were involved in the case had surrendered earlier this evening.
The Malayalam news channel recorded the phone call and broadcast only the minister's voice, editing out what the woman said to him.
The channel's CEO, Ajith Kumar, who has also been arrested, apologized on air five days later for misrepresenting the facts. Mangalam TV, which is less than two weeks old, originally claimed that the woman who the minister spoke to was a housewife who was being harassed to provide sexual favours.
Channel bosses later claimed that the woman who spoke on the phone to Transport Minister AK Saseendran was a journalist who volunteered to expose him in a sting operation. She worked with what the organization described as an investigation team set up by the channel. She is not among those who have reported to the police today.
While resigning, Mr Saseendran said that the phone conversation was doctored, but that he did not wish to cause the government more embarrassment and was therefore stepping down.
The Malayalam news channel recorded the phone call and broadcast only the minister's voice, editing out what the woman said to him.
The channel's CEO, Ajith Kumar, who has also been arrested, apologized on air five days later for misrepresenting the facts. Mangalam TV, which is less than two weeks old, originally claimed that the woman who the minister spoke to was a housewife who was being harassed to provide sexual favours.
While resigning, Mr Saseendran said that the phone conversation was doctored, but that he did not wish to cause the government more embarrassment and was therefore stepping down.
Advertisement
COMMENTS
Advertisement
Crazy Viral: Chiranjeevi And His "Star Guest" Ajith Kumar On Vishwambhara Set Kerala Actor-Politician Suresh Gopi Charged For "Misbehaving" With Woman Reporter "Journalist's Phone Can't Be Seized Without...": Kerala High Court Parents Gave Names Of Interns, Doctors To CBI In Kolkata Horror: Sources Who Is Jasveen Sangha, "Ketamine Queen" Charged With Matthew Perry's Death How Extreme Weather Is Leading To Rise In Child Marriages In Pakistan Blinken Heading To Israel To Press Gaza Truce 'INDIA' Is with You Against "Injustice": Rahul Gandhi To Arvind Kejriwal "Strong Indications" Bangladesh Security Forces Used "Unnecessary" Force: UN Track Latest News Live on NDTV.com and get news updates from India and around the world.