Lawyers raise pitch against Nakkeeran

CHENNAI: AIADMK supporters, including advocates, kept up their protests seeking arrest of R Gopal, editor of Tamil magazine Nakkheeran, for publishing a scurrilous article about Chief Minister J Jayalalithaa.At Saidapet, over 100 protestors staged a hunger strike, which was presided over by AIADMK functionary A Baskar. M M Babu, councillor of Chennai Corporation’s ward 142, was among those who attended. Speaking to Express, Babu demanded the arrest of Gopal and launch of legal proceedings against him.  Another demonstration was held in front of Chennai Collectorate. “This is outrageous and has been done deliberately with a sinister intent. How can such an utterly libelous and imaginary report be published,” a party worker asked. A group of AIADMK advocates, led by S Diwakar, staged a stir against Gopal near the Madras High Court. They burnt Gopal’s effigy and demanded his arrest. Later, they sent a representation, signed by over 100 lawyers, to the Press Council of India to take action against Gopal for his “misuse” of the freedom of the press.Cases on Gopal, MagA Vasudevan, an advocate from Chepauk, filed a plea praying for a direction to the Zam Bazaar Police to file a case against Gopal on his complaint dated January 7. Meanwhile, an Erode report said AIADMK lawyers wing filed a petition with the Chief Judicial Magistrate, seeking a direction to the police to file a case against the magazine. Legal wing district (suburban) president M Arulmurugan said that the ‘false’ news was published with a motive to disturb peace. Advance BailFearing arrest, Gopal filed an application in the Madras High Court seeking advance bail. He also filed another petition for a direction to the police to provide protection to his office in Zam Bazaar.