‘Wasn’t even allowed to wear a shirt, Pinarayi’s hand behind it’: Shajan Skaria granted bail in defamation case

Thiruvananthapuram: Shajan Skaria, the owner of online news channel ‘Marunadan Malayali’, has been granted bail in a case related to the publication of defamatory content. The case was based on a complaint filed by a woman from Mahe, who alleged that Skaria made sexually offensive remarks through a video and published defamatory news about her. He was granted conditional bail late at night after being presented before a magistrate following his arrest.

Meanwhile, speaking to the media during his arrest, Skaria alleged that he was taken into custody while dining with his parents and was not even allowed to put on a shirt. He also claimed that he was not informed about the nature of the charges against him. Chanting the slogan "Let the Pinarayi regime fall”, Skaria said he was going to jail to protect democracy and that all the charges against him were fabricated. 

He further alleged that the government was targeting him and that his arrest was a retaliatory move for publishing reports against the Chief Minister and his daughter.

Shajan Skaria, who is also the editor of the Marunadan Malayali, was arrested by the Thiruvananthapuram Cyber Police from his residence at Kudappanakunnu in Thiruvananthapuram.

As per the complaint, the woman, claimed to be an employee of a prominent bank in the UAE, was humiliated through a video published by him on December 23, 2024. The current action was reportedly based on a complaint she submitted to the Chief Minister.

The case has been registered under Section 79 of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita (offense of insulting a woman's modesty) and Section 120 of the IT Act (Conspiracy to commit offence).