Cochin: The tussle between the investor and the chief report of the Malayalam News Channel Reporter TV has turned murkier as it reached the door steps of Kerala Police, as the investor launched a fraud and forgery complaint against its Editorial Chief who also happens to be the Director of the company and running the day to day affairs of the channel.
The Managing Director of Malayalam news channel Reporter TV, M V Nikesh Kumar, a prominent TV journalist in Kerala has been accused of fraud and forgery by the channel’s vice-chairman, Laliya Joseph.
In her complaint to police, Joseph alleged that Kumar cheated her after promising to make her a major shareholder in the Indo-Asian News Channel Private Limited, which runs Reporter TV.
Laliya Joseph claimed that she invested Rs 1.5 crore in cash and allowed the channel to obtain Rs 9.5 crore as bank loan after mortgaging her property. However, she was not offered with the necessary stakes to increase her share holding in the company as promised by Mr. Kumar.
Based on her complaint, police in Thodupuzha, Idukki district, booked Kumar and his wife, Rani Varghese, for cheating and forgery. Varghese, who is a news anchor in the channel, is also a Reporter TV director.
Joseph, who had a short innings in visual media before joining hands with Kumar in 2010, said Kumar tried to convince her that only they would be the directors of the channel. She was allegedly told that she would get a major share in the company, Indo-Asian News Channel Private Limited.
Joseph claimed she was asked to sign in several blank forms to be submitted to the I&B Ministry for obtaining licence and other purposes. “Later, I understood that he (Kumar) had not presented such forms with the authorities concerned.”
She also alleged that the company had changed the share pattern in such a manner that affected her business interests and violated the promises made to her by Kumar.
When contacted, Kumar said he had nothing to say about the case. Sources said Kumar had already moved a bail application in court. Although the case was registered two weeks back, police sources said they were yet to take further action.
