COIMBATORE: While granting the anticipatory bail for Director Ameer in a case slapped against him for his speech in a TV debate show here on Monday, the judge Sanjai Baba said the organizer cannot dictate terms to the speakers and expressed this to be new for slapping case on a speaker in a TV debate show.
In early June, in a TV debate show on protests in Tamil Nadu, Director Ameer, spoke about the violence that happened in the aftermath of the Hindu Munnani functionary C Sasikumar murder. As few of the Hindu outfit cadres raised opposition for it, there had been ruckus and it was solved later. In this regard, Peelamedu police registered a case against Ameer and asked him to appear before the police for an inquiry.
Meanwhile, Ameer's counsel of lawyer approached the Principal District Court for an Anticipatory bail and it came up for hearing on Monday. While, hearing the case, the Public Prosecutor told the judge that Ameer's speech on the Hindu Munnani functionary C Sasikumar murder was provocative and that was irrelevant to the topic of the debate show. However, countering the same, defence counsel appeared on behalf of Director Ameer, told the judge that Ameer spoke only about the violence that broke in the aftermath of the murder. The defense counsel told the judge that it was his freedom of speech and the case is curtailing his freedom of expression.
Taking a note on it, the judge went onto the Public Prosecutor, who told that Ameer spoke violating the instructions given by the organizer of the debate show. However, Judge Saijai Baba told that there was nothing said like that in the FIR.
Further, the judge said that one could not dictate terms to the speakers in debate show. He also cited an example in the Haryana, where violence broke out after a TV debate show and that it is the responsibility of the police to keep the law and order situation in control. Finally, after an intense argument, the judge granted anticipatory bail to Ameer and asked to cooperate for investigation.
After getting the bail, Ameer appeared before the Peelamedu police for an inquiry and he filed a complaint against the persons, who reportedly attempted to attack him, while returning from the TV debate show. Speaking to the reporters, he said that the recent arrests of the people for speaking on various issues seem to be curtailing the freedom of expression.