HC rejects pre-arrest bail plea of actor-BJP leader S Ve Shekher

The Court also directed the police to proceed with the case in the same way as they would investigate any other common man.

Justice S Ramathilagam, who dismissed the anticipatory bail petition, in her order observed, “When a celebrity forwards messages like this, the common public will start believing that there is nothing wrong in this. This sends a wrong message to the society at a time when we are talking about women empowerment. There cannot be harsher words than this which portrays all working women as sacrificing their chastity.”

Noting that owing to such comments the future of such working women is at stake, the judge said, “What has been said is important, but ‘who’ has said it is more important in a society because the social status of an individual affects the respect he gets from the masses. After seeing these forwarded messages from a popular personality, the public will look at every working woman with a suspicious eye.”

The matter relates to a Facebook post forwarded by Shekher which had commented adversely on the character of women journalists.

A case was registered by the city’s cybercrime cell under sections 504, 505 (1) (c), 509 of IPC, and under Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women Harassment Act.

While coming down heavily on Shekher of failing to be a role model and instead setting a wrong precedent to his followers, Justice Ramathilagam said, “No one has any right to abuse women. It is rather a violation of rights.”

“If extending sexual favour is the only way to succeed in life, does it include all women who are holding high posts now,” the judge asked and added that it is but natural to feel that when the offended public including women were arrested during a protest, why the person who is root cause for such a protest is not dealt with as per law.