Thiruvananthapuram: In an ongoing investigation regarding a case filed against the editor of Malayalam online news channel Marunadan Malayalee, the police conducted searches at the residences of people associated with the channel. This recent development has again given momentum to allegations of police highhandedness and political witch-hunting. Prior to this, the police had already carried out raids at the homes of the channel's employees.

Police maintain that searches are carried out as part of their investigation to find out the whereabouts of its absconding editor, Shajan Skaria. The person has been booked under the SC/ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act over a complaint lodged by Kunnathunad MLA P V Sreenijin, belonging to the ruling Left.

Skaria moved the Special Court, seeking protection from arrest. However, it dismissed the plea, saying that the publication of the video containing derisive and derogatory comments, is sufficient to attract the alleged offences and hence, the bar on anticipatory bail under Section 18 of the SC/ST (PoA) Act would apply. 

Skaria then moved the High Court, and during the course of the hearing, Sreenijin's counsel submitted that Skaria himself appeared in a video and made unsubstantiated allegations and aspersions against the MLA. Sreenijin also alleged that Skaria even made insinuations against his father-in-law, a former Chief Justice of the Supreme Court of India. Upholding the Sessions Court order, the High Court made scathing observations against the online channel.

Meanwhile, the Kerala Union of Working Journalists (KUWJ) strongly condemned the raids by the police on the houses of the employees, including women working in the online news channel, saying such action was unheard of in the state. The Union said its position is that if there is a case against "Marunadan Malayalee" and its owner, Shajan Skaria, it should be investigated, and if he is found guilty, he should be punished. The union does not agree with the style of functioning of "Marunadan Malayalee", it said in a statement here.