The Indian Newspaper Society has condemned the arrest of a well-known editor of a vernacular weekly in Tamil Nadu over articles allegedly disparaging the state's governor, and demanded the immediate withdrawal of the case.
R Gopal, the editor of Tamil magazine 'Nakkheeran', was arrested Tuesday on a complaint from Raj Bhavan over articles that allegedly disparaged Governor Banwarilal Purohit.
Gopal walked free within hours after a court rejected the police's plea for his remand.
President of the Indian Newspaper Society, Jayant Mammen Mathew, on behalf of the entire community of INS members, strongly condemns the arrest, a statement from INS said.
"Constitutional authorities must exercise restraint and respect the freedom of press.
"The Society appeals to the President of India to intervene urgently in this matter to rein in gubernatorial excess. It also demands the immediate withdrawal of the case against Mr. Gopal and his colleagues," the statement said.