Kozhikode: A Malayalam television anchor has been booked by Kochi City Cyber Police following a complaint alleging that remarks made during a channel debate were derogatory towards Islam and hurt religious sentiments. The development comes as the state Home Department has reportedly instructed police not to move ahead hastily with proceedings in a separate case filed by the anchor against a Wisdom Youth leader.
The two cases stem from a televised panel discussion that examined controversial remarks concerning women’s participation in public life made by Sunni Muslim leader Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar.
Case registered against Big TV anchor Aparna Kurup
Kochi City Cyber Police registered a case against Big TV anchor Aparna Kurup after a complaint was filed by Abdul Hakim, a native of Kasaragod.
The complaint alleges that an introductory statement made by Aparna while presenting the debate was insulting and offended religious sentiments.
The controversy follows the broadcast of a panel discussion focused on comments by Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar concerning women’s role in public life.
Aparna and the television channel had subsequently issued an apology over the remarks.
The police action against the anchor comes days after a separate case was registered based on her complaint against Abdulla Basil, a leader associated with the Salafi organisation Wisdom Youth.
Police asked to hold proceedings in Basil case
An FIR was registered against Basil on Saturday following Aparna’s complaint.
The anchor had alleged that she was subjected to a cyberattack after Basil published a social media post criticising the television discussion.
The latest development has added another layer to the dispute, with the Home Department reportedly asking police not to rush proceedings in the case against Basil.
According to the available account, authorities have instructed police to hold proceedings in both cases connected with the controversial panel discussion.
The developments mean that complaints have now been filed from both sides of the dispute, with one concerning alleged offensive remarks made during the television debate and the other concerning alleged online attacks following the programme.
UDF leaders seek withdrawal of case against Wisdom Youth leader
The case against Basil has also triggered political reactions in Kerala.
Several United Democratic Front leaders, including Muslim Youth League state general secretary and Koduvally MLA P K Firos and Youth Congress leader Rejil Makkutty, have called for the case against Basil to be withdrawn.
Firos said that political leaders would not support communal language but also argued that people should not face criminal proceedings merely for highlighting allegedly communal remarks.
“We will not support anyone who uses communal language. But neither will we allow anyone to be implicated for exposing those who indulge in communalism,” he was quoted as saying.
His comments reflect the wider political debate that has emerged around the television discussion and the subsequent police complaints.
Wisdom organisation questions circumstances of case
Leaders associated with the Wisdom Islamic organisation have also questioned whether there was a broader conspiracy behind the case filed against Basil.
The organisation has raised concerns about the circumstances surrounding the police action and the treatment of the social media dispute.
Meanwhile, the Home Department has reportedly also asked police to examine a separate complaint filed by Basil against former Muslim activist Arif Hussein.
According to the report, Basil’s complaint alleged that Hussein had insulted his mother. The petition was reportedly submitted to the Chief Minister and the state police chief on August 12.
The complaint was subsequently forwarded to Chakkarakkal police station, although no action had reportedly been taken on it at the time of the latest developments.
IUML chief urges restraint
Indian Union Muslim League state president Panakkad Syed Sadiq Ali Shihab Thangal has also commented on the controversy.
In a Facebook post, he cautioned against groups or individuals attempting to exploit the dispute.
Thangal said that the ongoing discussions had damaged aspects of the cultural heritage built through years of struggle and warned that insulting remarks and hate speech on social media would not benefit anyone.
His statement comes amid growing political and public discussion over the television debate, the subsequent complaints and the competing allegations arising from the controversy.
What the dispute is about
At the centre of the controversy is a debate over women’s participation in public life following remarks attributed to Kanthapuram A P Aboobacker Musliyar.
The televised discussion subsequently became the subject of criticism on social media. Aparna’s introductory remarks were challenged by complainants, while the anchor alleged that criticism of the programme had escalated into a cyberattack.
Both sides have now become the subject of police complaints, although the nature and status of the allegations remain matters for the authorities to examine.
The Home Department’s reported direction to proceed cautiously in the case against Basil adds another significant development to the dispute.
