ORDER :

This petition is at the instance of the accused in ST No.200 of 2022 on the file of Judicial First Class Magistrate Court-I, Karunagapally, invoking inherent jurisdiction of this Court to quash the proceedings in that case.

2. According to the petitioner, the 1st respondent filed a private complaint against her alleging an offence punishable under Section 500 of IPC, making false and untenable allegations of defamation. The petitioner is an award winning journalist. She posted a video in her YouTube Channel by name ‘Kolambi’ about Amritanandamayi and about the mysterious deaths occurred in her Ashram. That video was based on various books and publications by different authors, and she did not add anything more, on her own. She would say that, the allegations in the complaint or the statement of witnesses in the enquiry were not sufficient to bring home an offence punishable under Section 500 of IPC against her. The 1st respondent failed to show a prima facie case as to how he was defamed by that YouTube video posted by her. So, her prayer is to quash the proceedings in ST No.200 of 2022.

3. Heard learned counsel for the petitioner, learned Public Prosecutor and also the 1st re