TV anchor directed to meet Police, Kaloo’s bail extended

Ahmed Ali Fayyaz

Srinagar, Sep 14: Even as Mr Qayoom Wadera today joined as the new Head of Programme at Doordarshan Kendra Srinagar and the authorities asked a male television anchor, Masood Muntazar, to host the daily morning show “Good Morning J&K” from tomorrow, a female anchor on bail was directed by a court to cooperate with the Police investigation and show up at the Police station forthwith.

Relieved overnight and attached to DD headquarters, Mrs Shami Shair did not turn up for the ritual of a valedictory function as nobody initiated to arrange one in her honour at DDK Srinagar. Consequently, Abdul Qayoom Wadera, who has been brought back from DDK Leh in less than a year, joined as the new Head of Programme in Srinagar.

Sources said that immediately after taking over, Wadera decided to remove all of the outgoing Director’s female hosts whose conduct has caused a major dent to the reputation and credibility of the national broadcaster in J&K. Male anchor, Masood Muntazar, who had actually started the morning show on 1-12-2011 and hosted it till 15-01-2012, was brought back and asked to anchor it from tomorrow.

Meanwhile, sources said that court of Sub Registrar, Mr Manzoor Ahmad Zargar, entertained Chief Prosecuting Officer’s fresh application, seeking cancellation of the release order of a Scorpio and other belongings of the National Conference leader and ex-MLC Altaf Kaloo. The judge put the previously issued release order in abeyance till September 18^th.

As already reported, Police Station Nageen had booked the female anchor of DDK Srinagar’s morning show and the NC leader in a matter of “making obscene act at a public place” as mentioned in FIR No: 110 under section 294. While as the female TV anchor had been arrested on spot, the NC leader was alleged to have escaped, leaving behind his vehicle and other belongings. The woman was released later on bail and Kaloo was granted anticipatory bail by Principal District and Sessions Judge of Srinagar, Mr Mohammad Shafi Khan.

On a day when the local lawyers’ fraternity was on shutdown against a blasphemous film made in USA, the judge today extended Kaloo’s bail till September 18^th. However, he has been directed to make himself available to the Investigating Officer on Saturday, Monday and Tuesday to cooperate in the investigation.

Meanwhile, Police are now at the receiving end of massive criticism as the people are putting questions how the NC leader escaped from the spot at the time of Police raid on the houseboat on September 9^th. Others are now openly asking why Police did not invoke PITA and other harsher laws as had been applied in an infamous sex scandal involving a number of mainstream politicians and government officials in 2006. None of the accused of the Srinagar Sex Scam of 2006 had been caught red-handed as the fresh couple have been according to Police’s own claim.

Further, speculations are gaining currency that the female anchor has gone into hiding and flown to New Delhi though nobody has spotted her at the airport.

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