Daijiworld Media Network - Chennai (SHP)

Chennai, Oct 1: Following the continuous complaints by women journalists, self-proclaimed 'political analyst', Kishore K Swamy was arrested by the Cyber Crime wing of Chennai Police.

The Tamil Nadu Women Journalists Forum stated that Swamy used to post obscenities regarding them on Twitter. Additionally, he has been accused by three other women who claimed that he indulged in their character assassination and tried to incite particular religious sects against them.

The accused Swamy is notable for being a popular AIADMK and a BJP supporter. Taking action on the complaints, Chennai police booked him under sections 354D (stalking), 509 (Word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman) of the IPC and section 4 (Harassment of Women) of Tamil Nadu Prohibition of Women Harassment Act, 1998.

Jaya Bathuri, the coordinator of TN Women Journalists Forum, alleged that upon approaching the police with complaints against Swamy, the Commissioner himself assured strict actions against him.

Swamy is notorious for shifting his loyalty from one party to other from AIADMK to Sasikala Loyalist to BJP. He uploads tweets and Facebook posts in favour of the parties he supports. However, AIADMK has discarded Swamy's association with them.

Although Kishore K Swamy has been touted as an 'expert guest' by English news channels, they also have complained of harassment from him. There even have been accusations from some of the men against him.

Sonia Arunkumar of the TN Women Journalists Forum called Swamy a repeat offender who needs to be stopped. Further, she believes that people who support him and his views need to discourage him rather the other way around. “For instance, at present, if you check it is the BJP supporters who are giving more mileage to his tweets and propagating it. This emboldens him. As a party, they could have at least desisted from encouraging him or giving him any kind of validation. His posts have given young women journalists, who are new to the field, immense mental agony,” she added.