Kannur: Police interrogated Asianet’s Kannur reporter Sanio Manomi in connection with abuse of minor for producing fake video. The City Police Commissioner and the team led by Kannur Inspector Binumohan questioned Sanio at his home in Thana on Tuesday.
Asianet had shot interview with a girl who studied at Kannur school - one in which she narrated how she was abused. During interrogation on Tuesday, the cops asked Sanio if the girl shot in the second interview was same as the victim featuring in the first. The answer was a no. Sanio also admitted that he had conducted the first interview
According to sources, investigators secured testimony that said the voice of the first girl was used in the second interview with a different girl posed as narrator. The damning testimony will now be handed over to Vellayil Police in Kozhikode who is investing POCSO case in the incident. That in place, the staff who edited parts of the original interview to maneuver it into the second too falls into the loop.
The channel heads handed employees strict instructions that they stay away from questioning. Sanio who was called to police station for questioning cited inconveniences, following which, the interrogation team made it to his house themselves.
Naufal bin Yousuf, the star accused, is nowhere to be found. He is unavailable at office and missing from home.
Reporters shuffled
Two reporters at Asianet’s Kannur office have been transferred. Naufal bin Yousuf hs been shifted to Kozhikode Bureau and Sanio Manomi to Ernakulam Bureau. For Sanio, it is punishment transfer. According to Naufal’s accusation, it is Sanio who leaked the concocted video. Naufal has been transferred to Kohikode Bureau where co-accused in the case, K Shahjahan, is in charge. The aim is to destroy potential evidence and ensure safety to management side.
