Outlook in trouble? Criminal cases booked for 'sexist' piece on Smita Sabharwal

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In a new development that could spell trouble for news magazine Outlook, the Central Crime Station (CCS) in Hyderabad on Saturday registered cases against the management and employees of the magazine for a 'sexist' piece believed to be aimed at Telangana IAS officer and Additional secretary to Telangana CMO, Smita Sabharwal. The complaint was reportedly filed by Smitha’s husband and IPS officer Akun Sabharwal, following which the CCS registered cases against editor-in-chief Krishna Prasad, Hyderabad based assistant editor Madhavi Tata, cartoonist Saahil and President of the Outlook group Indranil Roy. In a recent edition, Outlook had published a piece titled 'No boring Babu' in its 'Deep Throat' column. The piece spoke about how a woman bureaucrat in the Telangana CM's office is present at every meeting making a "fashion statement with her lovely saris and serves as 'eye candy' at meetings. Despite not mentioning any names, the article was believed to be aimed at Smita Sabharwal, the only woman officer in the CM's office . A legal notice from Sabharwal's lawyer followed with the article being called "distasteful, cheap and titillating". Read - IAS officer Smita Sabharwal tells TNM Outlook piece is "yellow journalism" against working women Cases have been registered against them under IPC Section 509 (word, gesture or act intended to insult the modesty of a woman), Section 67 of IT Act and Section 3 read with 6 of the Indecent Representation of Women (Prohibition Act) 1986. A petition was also received from the Chairperson of State Commission for Women for AP and Telangana, a report in The New Indian Express adds. Outlook later replaced the old article on its website with 'Outlook - Regret,' and said that the magazine "regrets if any offence was taken" while adding that the report had not cited any names or specifics. The piece "was not intended to be derisive or derogatory, and was meant to be received in a lighter vein," it said. Read - Unapologetic Outlook offers regret, defends Smita Sabharwal snippet as 'satirical'

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