Mangalam TV explained
Mangalam TV was an Indian 24 hours Malayalam-language satellite news channel headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.
The channel was launched in 2017.
The channel ran into financial troubles and shut down all operations by end of 2022. In early 2023, South Indian Bank confiscated its assets including studio and equipment.[1]
Controversy
On its launch day,[2] Mangalam TV, aired a telephonic audio clip in which Transport Minister AK Saseendran is allegedly heard speaking in a sexually explicit way to a person,[3] [4] whom the channel claimed was a housewife.[5] Saseendran resigned as minister the same day. It was Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who had inaugurated the channel launch.[6]
Later, the channel CEO Ajith Kumar apologised and admitted that it was a sting operation done using a woman journalist of the channel[7] after having denied it earlier.[8]
On April 4, the CEO and four mediapersons of the channel were arrested by the police for airing “obscene conversation” and criminal conspiracy.[9] [10]
Later, Saseendran was acquitted in the case after the complainant, who had earlier alleged sexual harassment turned hostile in court and he returned as minister.[11] [12]
Notes and References
- Web site: ശശീന്ദ്രനും പൂച്ചക്കുട്ടിയും... മംഗളം പൂട്ടി; കടം കേറി മുടിഞ്ഞു മംഗളം ചാനൽ ലേലത്തിന്,.... www.malayalivartha.com.
- News: mangalam tv: Launch-day sleaze puts TV CEO, four journalists in headlines | Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India. The Times of India. 5 April 2017 .
- Web site: Minister A K Saseendran phone talk Mangalam tv exclusive launching YouTube 360p - YouTube. 2020-07-22. youtube.com. 30 March 2017 .
- Web site: 2017-03-26. Kerala minister AK Saseendran quits over alleged obscene phone call with woman. 2020-07-22. Hindustan Times. en.
- Web site: 2017-04-05. Kerala sleaze audio case: Mangalam TV channel CEO, 4 others arrested. 2020-07-22. Hindustan Times. en.
- Web site: Akshay. 2017-03-06. ചാനല് മത്സരം കൊഴുപ്പിക്കാന് മംഗളം ടെലിവിഷനും; മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി നിലവിളക്ക് കൊളുത്തി ഉദ്ഘാടനം ചെയ്തു. 2020-07-22. malayalam.oneindia.com. ml.
- Web site: 2017-03-31. Mangalam TV CEO apologises for sting against former minister. 2020-07-22. The Indian Express. en.
- Web site: 'Will you stop journalism if HONEY TRAP proved'?; Mangalam CEO tongue tied in Editors Hour - YouTube. 2020-07-22. youtube.com. 29 March 2017 .
- Web site: Kerala sleaze audio case: Mangalam TV channel CEO, 4 others arrested. April 5, 2017. Hindustan Times.
- Web site: Legal. India. 2017-04-11. Trouble in store for Mangalam TV. 2020-07-22. India Legal. en-US.
- Web site: NCP's AK Saseendran acquitted; set to return to Kerala state cabinet. https://web.archive.org/web/20180130084750/http://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2018/jan/27/ncps-ak-saseendran-acquitted-set-to-return-to-kerala-state-cabinet-1764225.html. dead. 30 January 2018. 2020-07-22. The New Indian Express.
- Web site: 2018-02-02. After acquittal in sleaze talk case, AK Saseendran returns to Kerala cabinet. 2020-07-22. The Financial Express. en-US.
