'False complaint' says Junior Vikatan magazine, after FIR filed against it for 'extortion'

An FIR has been filed against Tamil news magazine Junior Vikatan, whistleblower Savukku Shankar, and YouTuber Maridhas on charges of "extortion and intimidation", the News Minute has reported.

The FIR was filed on the basis of a complaint by G Square Realtors.

According to the report, Junior Vikatan published a story in January on the company allegedly receiving "favours" due to its closeness to the DMK. However, the company alleged a man named Kevin had contacted them before the story was published, demanding Rs 50 lakh to withhold it. The company allegedly refused to pay the bribe.

Kevin was arrested on May 22.

The FIR also named Savukku Shankar and Maridhas because, the News Minute reported, "the complainant alleged that Kevin threatened that if he fails to pay, he would make these social media influencers write defamatory statements about the company".

Vikatan's legal counsel categorically told the News Minute Kevin had no connection to the publication: "This is an assault on press freedom by a state machinery on the guise of a false complaint."

The Chennai Press Club issued a statement saying it "did not expect this from the DMK government", Indian Express reported.

Following the FIR, editor of Junior Vikatan also filed a police complaint seeking action against Kevin the G Square's management for trying to "silence the magazine" using a "false" complaint, especially four months after the purported incident took place.