Mangalam TV
CountryIndia
Broadcast areaIndian sub-continent, Middle East, Europe, North America
HeadquartersThiruvananthapuram, Kerala
Programming
Language(s)Malayalam
Picture format480i
Ownership
OwnerMangalam Publications
History
Launched26 March 2017
Links
Websitewww.mangalam.com/news/about-mangalam.html

Mangalam TV is a 24 hours Malayalam satellite news channel headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala.

Controversy

On its launch day,[1] 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,[2][3] whom the channel claimed was a housewife.[4] Saseendran resigned as minister the same day. It was Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan who had inaugurated the channel launch.[5]

Later, the channel CEO Ajith Kumar apologised and admitted that it was a sting operation done using a woman journalist of the channel[6] after having denied it earlier.[7]

On April 4, the CEO and four mediapersons of the channel were arrested by the police for airing “obscene conversation” and criminal conspiracy.[8][9]

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.[10][11]

References

  1. ^ "mangalam tv: Launch-day sleaze puts TV CEO, four journalists in headlines | Thiruvananthapuram News - Times of India". The Times of India.
  2. ^ "Minister A K Saseendran phone talk Mangalam tv exclusive launching YouTube 360p - YouTube". youtube.com. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  3. ^ "Kerala minister AK Saseendran quits over alleged obscene phone call with woman". Hindustan Times. 26 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  4. ^ "Kerala sleaze audio case: Mangalam TV channel CEO, 4 others arrested". Hindustan Times. 5 April 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  5. ^ Akshay (6 March 2017). "ചാനല്‍ മത്സരം കൊഴുപ്പിക്കാന്‍ മംഗളം ടെലിവിഷനും; മുഖ്യമന്ത്രി നിലവിളക്ക് കൊളുത്തി ഉദ്ഘാടനം ചെയ്തു". malayalam.oneindia.com (in Malayalam). Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  6. ^ "Mangalam TV CEO apologises for sting against former minister". The Indian Express. 31 March 2017. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  7. ^ "'Will you stop journalism if HONEY TRAP proved'?; Mangalam CEO tongue tied in Editors Hour - YouTube". youtube.com. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  8. ^ "Kerala sleaze audio case: Mangalam TV channel CEO, 4 others arrested". Hindustan Times. 5 April 2017.
  9. ^ Legal, India (11 April 2017). "Trouble in store for Mangalam TV". India Legal. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  10. ^ "NCP's AK Saseendran acquitted; set to return to Kerala state cabinet". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
  11. ^ "After acquittal in sleaze talk case, AK Saseendran returns to Kerala cabinet". The Financial Express. 2 February 2018. Retrieved 22 July 2020.
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