In this petition filed under Sec. 482 Cr.P.C. the petitioner who is the Editor of Malayala Manorama, Kottayam, seeks to quash Annexure-A complaint dated 15-3-2006 on the file of the J.F.C.M., Mannarkkadu and all further proceedings in C.C. 1/2006 on the file of the above said Magistrate. 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 Sec. 499 I.P.C. and punishable under Sec. 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 26-04-2005 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 Manoarama daily dated 27-4-2005 of which the first accused the Editor responsible for selection of news under the Press and Registration of Books