ORDER

V. Ramkumar, J.—In this petition filed under Section 482, Cr.P.C. the petitioner (Mammen Mathew) who is the Editor of Malayala Manorama, Kottayam, seeks to quash Annexure-A complaint dated 15-3-2006 and all further proceedings in C.C. No. 1/2006 on the file of the J.F.C.M., Mannarkkadu. The above case arose out of a private complaint filed by the first respondent herein (M.N. Radhakrishnan) alleging the commission of an offence under Section 499, I.P.C. and punishable under Section 500 I.P.C.

The Complaint

2. The averments in the above private complaint a copy of which has been produced as Annexure-A can be summarised as follows:

The complainant is the Manager of the Mannarkkad Branch of United India Insurance Company Limited. He was on leave for the period between 11-4-2005 and 24-4-2005 and 26-4-2005 and 6-5-2005. At the time of entering on leave the complainant had as usual, entrusted the keys of the branch office with the Senior Assistant. While the complainant was on leave as aforesaid a news item was published in the Malayala Manorama daily dated 27.4.2005 of which the first accused is the Editor and responsible for selection of news under the Press and Registration of