The Thiruvananthapuram Cantonment police have booked three individuals associated with the Malayalam news channel Reporter Live in connection with a distasteful video featuring a minor school girl. The accused, who include the channel’s consulting editor Arun Kumar K and reporter Shahbaz, have been charged under sections of the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act. The video, which was aired on the channel in connection with the recently concluded Kerala State Kalolsavam, sparked widespread outrage for its inappropriate content.
In addition to Arun Kumar and Shahbaz, a third unidentified individual has also been booked. They have been charged under Sections 12 and 11(1) of the POCSO Act, which deal with sexual harassment and making sexually explicit gestures towards children, respectively, and Section 3(5) of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition) Act, which pertains to publishing content that objectifies women.
The controversial video featuring Arun and a group of reporters was shot during the Kalolsavam, the state school arts festival. It began with Arun teasing Shahbaz, asking, “Did you see that Oppana girl again?” referring to a school girl who performed the traditional dance form at the fest.
The video is scripted to resemble a movie scene and includes a dialogue between Shahbaz and the girl, with the reporter making flirtatious remarks such as, “You look good,” accompanied by a romantic song from the 2012 Malayalam film Ustad Hotel. The video ends with a teacher instructing the dancers to walk ahead.
The case was registered based on a complaint filed by KV Manoj Kumar, chairperson of the Kerala State Commission for Protection of Child Rights. On January 10, the commission had sought an explanation from the channel regarding the video.
After the backlash, Reporter Live removed the video from all its platforms.