Nakkeeran Case: What Is N Ram’s Locus Standi And Why Was He Allowed To Testify, Madras HC Asks Magistrate 

The Madras High Court has directed a city magistrate to file a report explaining under what statutory provision did he allow N Ram, the Chairman of the Hindu Group of Publications, to make a submission in a local court for the release of Tamil bi-weekly Magazine Nakkeeran editor and publisher R R Gopal.

Last month, the magistrate refused to remand R R Gopal in judicial custody after Ram’s submission, reports Times of India.

“This court is not happy with the way the proceedings have been conducted by the court below. The trial court has virtually converted the court into a public platform. This attitude of judges playing to the gallery should be stopped. N Ram is a rank outsider in so far as this case is concerned. He did not have any locus standi to make any representation before the court. Court proceedings cannot be made as a platform for expressing public opinion. Court proceedings have to confine itself to the facts of every case and the law involved therein,” said Justice Anand Venkatesh while hearing the appeal moved by the state against the magistrate’s order.

R R Gopal, famously known as Nakkeeran Gopal, was arrested at the Chennai airport and produced before the XIII metropolitan magistrate for judicial custody, on charges of assaulting or restraining Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit from exercising his legal powers, on 9 October. The developments took place after the Nakkeeran published a story linking the Raj Bhavan with Nirmala Devi, a lecturer at a college who was accused of attempting to lure college girls into offering sexual favours to unknown people for additional marks.

Subsequently, media reports said that Nirmala Devi had used the Governor’s name to mislead people and giving in to her pressure. This is not the first time Nakkeeran has waded into a controversy. The bi-weekly became famous after he interviewed dreaded sandalwood smuggler Veerappan, who was pursued by police in Kerala, Karnataka and Tamil Nadu.

Magistrate S Gopinath refused to remand Gopal under Section 124 and set him free, after arguments on 9 October. The state moved an appeal challenging the order, which was heard on Tuesday ( 20 October).

Justice Anand Venkatesh directed the magistrate to file a report explaining his actions, by 28 November 28 but did not stay the magistrate court’s decision to remand Gopal in judicial custody. The next hearing is scheduled for 29 November.