Outlook, Sued for Sexist Remarks, Says its Reporter is Now Being Threatened

Hyderabad: After being sued for deeply derogatory and sexist comments about a senior bureaucrat, Outlook magazine has alleged that the reporter who filed the story is being subjected to "sexist abuse".

In a letter sent to the police in Hyderabad  today,  the magazine has complained of emailed, texted and tweeted messages threatening the safety of its  correspondent.  A copy of the complaint has also been sent to the office of Chief Minister K Chandrasekhar Rao.

It is his top aide, Smita Sabharwal, who has sued Outlook this week for a slew of offensive remarks including one that described her as "eye candy" without naming her.  Outlook has removed the piece on her as well as a cartoon that showed her walking a fashion ramp with ogling politicians in the audience.  

Ms Sabharwal told NDTV in an interview on Wednesday " I want Outlook to apologize to women across the country, this is an insult to women in general."

Outlook has refused that request, stating instead on its website that it "expresses regret if any offence has been taken" .  The magazine says the piece and cartoon have been removed, while stressing that the content was "not intended to be derisive or derogatory, and was meant to be received in a lighter vein."