Contempt case against Nakkeeran Gopal closed

CHENNAI: The Madras Hi-gh Court has closed the con-tempt proceedings on Wed-nesday, initiated against Tamil biweekly Nakkheeran’s editor R R Gopal for publishing a defamatory and derogatory article against CM J Jayalalithaa in a issue dated January 7 this year, following publication of a regret message in the subsequent issue dated January 14. The first bench comprising Chief Justice M Y Eqbal and Justice T S Sivagnanam noted that Gopal had also filed an affidavit stating that there was no intention of hurting anyone’s feelings. He had published a regret message on the first page of the issue dated January 14. Further, in obedience of the directions of the High Cou-rt, he had also re-published his regret on the wrapper and on the first page of the issue dated January 18. “Since Gopal has admitted his mistake and published a regret message, we are of the view that no further action need be taken,’’ the bench observed and closed the contempt application.In another case, the ben-ch granted three weeks to the government pleader to file his counter on a petition from Gopal seeking to tran-sfer all cases registered aga-inst him throughout the State on the same issue, to Zam Bazaar police station.