SC protects Tamil actor-tuned-politician Shekher from arrest

The Supreme Court on Tuesday granted protection from arrest to Tamil actor-turned-politician S Ve Shekher for sharing a "derogatory Facebook post" against women journalists, following the controversy surrounding patting on the cheek of a female reporter by Governor Banwarilal Purohit.

A bench of Justice A M Khanwilkar and Navin Sinha issued a notice to Tamil Nadu government on a special leave petition filed by advocate Balaji Srinivasan on behalf of Shekher, a BJP member.

In his short submission, Shekher's counsel contended that he had deleted the post a day after sharing it. "Still the case was registered and his house was vandalised," he said.

The court immediately agreed to seek the state government's response in the matter.

After this, the counsel sought a direction to protect him from arrest.

This was allowed by the bench, which ordered, "No coercive action should be taken against the petitioner till the next date of hearing."

The court put the matter for consideration on June 1.

An FIR was lodged against Shekher last month under various provisions of the IPC and the Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Harassment of Women Act.

The Madras High Court had rejected Shekher's plea for anticipatory bail, forcing him to approach the top court.