India: Police Launch Defamation Investigation Into Akhila Nandakumar For Story On Communist Party Student Leader
The Coalition For Women In Journalism demands the party stops harassing critical journalists and urges Kerala police to drop the case
Location: India, Kerala
Date: June 9, 2023
Asianet News reporter Akhila Nandakumar is being investigated for conspiracy to defame after reporting on suspicious exam results of the leader of the student wing of India’s Communist Party. The Coalition For Women In Journalism calls on Kerala police to immediately cease its investigation into Nandakumar.
On June 9, Kerala police opened a case against Akhila Nandakumar from Asianet News and four others for conspiring to tarnish the image of the Communist Party of India’s student wing (CPI(M)) and its leader PM Arsho.
“It’s anti-democratic and an infringement on media freedom,” the Kerala Union of Working Journalists says, condemning the police’s decision to investigate.
Following a complaint filed by PM Arsho, police opened an investigation (FIR) alleging Nandakumar “circulated” a “fake” list in which Arsho passed a post-graduate examination he never took by allowing a mention of it during a live broadcast on June 8.
“While responding to my questions, (KSU college unit vice-president) Faisal said there was another grave matter involving Arsho and disclosed that the SFI leader passed the exam without appearing in it,” says Nandakumar.
“As it was live, I had no opportunity to cross-check the allegation. However, I mentioned that it was an allegation by the KSU leader and that it needed to be investigated,” she continued.
The Kerala Union of Working Journalists president stated that the reporter did not interfere in the college's affairs or conspire with the principal, teachers, or KSU leaders to target Arsho.
The executive editor of Asianet News claims police suspiciously registered the case against Nandakumar without verifying the allegations made by Arsho. He believes that Arsho — who is awaiting trial for attempted murder — is unhappy with the ongoing media attention he has received.
Nandakumar is a senior reporter with Asianet News. The outlet is among the most-watched news channels in Kerala, broadcasting in the local language of Malayalam.
The ruling party targets news channel
The Communist Party of India (Marxist), the ruling party in Kerala, has been previously criticized for targeting Asianet News.
The channel is owned by Rajeev Chandrasekhar, a three-time member of the upper house of the Indian Parliament representing the Bharatiya Janata Party, India's ruling party.
In March, CPI(M) used its student wing to occupy the channel's regional office, claiming their reportage on sex abuse at a Kerala school had distorted facts.
The government also instructed police to conduct a lengthy search at another regional office of Asianet News in Kozhikode. The channel claims nothing was recovered during the police raid. Critics accused the CPI(M) of using its power and police force to silence a news channel critical of those in power.
The conflict attracted national attention.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism stands in solidarity with Akhila Nandakumar. The reporter acted responsibly and fairly when reporting alleged claims on live television and should not be accused of defamation for doing her job. Defamation cases against journalists have chilling effects on press freedom. Besides being costly and time-consuming, journalists may hesitate to report on certain topics or individuals for fear of being sued. We call on the Communist Party of India to stop targeting journalists and urge Kerala police to drop their investigation into Nandakumar immediately.
The Coalition For Women In Journalism is a global organization of support for women journalists. The CFWIJ pioneered mentorship for mid-career women journalists across several countries around the world and is the first organization to focus on the status of free press for women journalists. We thoroughly document cases of any form of abuse against women in any part of the globe. Our system of individuals and organizations brings together the experience and mentorship necessary to help female career journalists navigate the industry. Our goal is to help develop a strong mechanism where women journalists can work safely and thrive.
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