Reporter’s diary: ‘Scribes’ get shivers as cop’s ‘revenge’ plan fails

While hearing a Public Interest Litigation filed by a man who claimed to be a press reporter and submitted that former Idol Wing CID Pon Manickavel falsified the data to get himself appointed as Special Officer to probe the idol thefts, the court ordered the reporter to ascertain the authenticity of such PILs. Interestingly, when the court asked for the credentials of the petitioner, the counsel submitted various identity cards issued to the ‘scribe’ by the press clubs along with an original ID card of a former police officer. When the court inquired about the police ID card, the counsel didn’t give a direct answer. However, scribes later found out that the officer, whose ID was submitted, had been suspended by Pon Manickavel, and the talk in court was that the attempt by the officer, who desperately wanted to take revenge by filing a PIL, had enormously backfired. It also created a fear among the fake reporters and bogus press clubs who function like mafias and indulge in blackmailing and extorting businessmen. Following the court proceedings, journalists shared their knowledge of frivolous newspapers functioning with the sole motive of extracting money and gaining undue favours from government offices, including police stations. From what appears, the report may turn out to be really long!