By TCN News,
New Delhi: BJP leader Sushma Swaraj said that she would intervene for Tehelka correspondent KK Shahina, who is facing charges in Karnataka. The leader of opposition in the Lok Sabha gave the word to the Kerala Union of Working Journalists which submitted a memorandum before her on the matter.
Ms Swaraj reportedly said that she would bring the case of Shahina to the notice of Karnataka Chief Minister and ensure the necessary procedures. The Kerala Union of Working Journalists had demanded an immediate intervention in the matter.
The KUWJ reportedly stated in its memorandum that the Karnataka police had charged Shahina with non-bailable sections and sedition accusing her of intimidating the witnesses in the Bengaluru blast case, whereas she was only doing her job as a journalist. KUWJ state president KC Rajagopal, general secretary Manoharan Morayi, and state committee members C Gouridasan Nair and N Padmanabhan submitted the memorandum.
Shahina had been to Kodagu in Karnataka last November and met two witnesses in the 2008 Bengaluru blast case, who had reportedly given testimonies against Kerala’s PDP leader Abdunnasir Maudany. Shahina said in her report published in the Tehelka that the witnesses spoke to her against the police version. The Karnataka police then charged a case against Shahina accusing her of intimidating the witnesses and sedition. Shahina was denied anticipatory bail by the Madikkeri Sessions Court on January 7, which prompted her to file a petition in the Karnataka High Court on January 12. Meanwhile, the police had reportedly visited Shahina’s house in Kerala twice in January and left notices for her to appear for questioning.