Chennai: Journalist granted bail

A senior journalist of a leading Tamil newspaper, arrested in connection with a report about a prostitution case, was granted bail today.

Chief Metropolitan Magistrate Williams granted unconditional bail to B Lenin, news editor of Tamil daily 'Dinamalar'.

The police did not object to the grant of bail.

Lenin's arrest on Wednesday sparked off protest from the media organisations which termed it as "arbitrary and undemocratic".

The newspaper had carried a report, as also photos, with details of a statement purportedly given to police by a TV woman artiste arrested in connection with a prostitution case, naming several actresses of yesteryear, alleging that they ran brothels.

The Southern Film Artistes Association protested against the publication and demanded action against the daily for the report.