HC rejects pre-arrest bail plea of actor-BJP leader Shekher, rebukes him for sharing derogatory post

The Madras High Court today dismissed the anticipatory bail plea of actor-politician S Ve Shekher in a case of sharing a social media post derogatory to women journalists, and sharply rebuked him saying that when a celebrity like him forwards such messages, it sends a wrong message to the society.

There cannot be harsher words than these which portray all working women coming up in life as "sacrificing their chastity" and the future of such women is at stake, Justice S Ramathilagam observed while directing the police to proceed in the case in the same manner as they would investigate a matter involving a common man.

"When a celebrity forwards messages like this, the common public will start believing that this type of things are going on. This sends a wrong message to the society at a time when we are talking about women empowerment," the judge observed.

"Forwarded message is equal to accepting the message and endorsing the message. What is said is important, but who has said it is more important in a society because people respect persons for their social status," the judge said.

After seeing such posts from a person who is popular and has lot of connections with the media for long, public will look at every working woman with a suspicious eye, she observed.

A case was registered last month by the cyber cell of the police under various sections of IPC, following which Shekher, a BJP member, filed the anticipatory bail petition.

"The language and the words used are not indirect but direct abusive, obscene, foul language which is not expected from a person of this calibre and age who claims to be a literate with lot of credentials, with lot of followers," Justice Ramathilagam said.

Instead of being a role model to his followers, he set a wrong precedent, the judge added.

The judge, while stating that law is same for everyone and people should not lose faith in judiciary, added that "mistakes and crimes are not same. Only children can make mistakes which can be pardoned. If the same is done by elderly people it becomes an offence."
Observing that in public life every act is watched by the public, the judge said "control of emotions, showing emotions in a controlled form is a leadership quality."