The Kerala High Court on Friday (November 6) directed the police to protect the life and property of Big TV journalist Aparna Kurup, who has alleged that she received death threats and faced cyber attacks after anchoring a channel discussion relating to a public statement by Islamic scholar Kanthapuram A.P. Aboobacker Musaliar on women's rights, LiveLaw reported (2026 LiveLaw (Ker) 618).

Source: LiveLaw

Justice Murali Purushothaman was informed that, under an earlier interim order of the court, the station house officer (SHO) of Ernakulam South Police Station is already affording protection to the petitioner. The government pleader submitted that the SHO is willing to provide adequate protection to her life and her residential apartment as and when required, and that there is police surveillance near her residence.

The court observed that it will be open to Kurup to alert the SHO in case of any threat or intimidation from any person, and that in such an event the SHO shall afford necessary protection to her and her residence and take all necessary steps to avoid any law and order situation.

Kurup is a senior journalist working as Senior Coordinating Editor with Big TV Channel. According to her plea, she anchored a channel discussion titled 'Big Dialogue' relating to Kanthapuram's statement on women's rights, and stated that the discussion was journalistic in nature and made in exercise of the freedom of the press under Article 19(1)(a). She alleged that, despite a criminal complaint, the threats did not cease but were aggravated, after which she approached the SHO and then the High Court seeking protection for herself and her son and an effective investigation of the crime registered on her complaint.

After hearing the parties, the court disposed of the plea directing the SHO concerned to give adequate police protection to the lives of Kurup and her minor son and to avoid law and order issues, a second legal news outlet, Jurisight, also reported on Friday.

Source: Jurisight

The allegations of threats are as stated in the petition and reported by the court; no finding has been reported against any individual in connection with the alleged threats.