Jamaat-e-Islami Hind (JIH) Kerala has reportedly sent a legal notice to former BJP state president K. Surendran, along with the editor of Manorama News, the channel’s parent company, and an interviewer from a Manorama News event.
The organisation accuses Surendran and the media outlet of spreading defamatory and factually incorrect claims that linked JIH to the Red Fort bomb attack.
The notice issued through Advocate Ameen Hassan on behalf of JIH Kerala Secretary Shihab Pookottur refers to comments made during Manorama News’s “Amarathum Akalathum” programme held at the Manorama Hortus event in Kochi.
Surendran is said to have alleged that Jamaat-e-Islami was responsible for the Red Fort blast and associated the group with extremist activities, even describing the Welfare Party as its political arm. These remarks were later aired on Manorama News, uploaded to its YouTube channel, and shared on Surendran’s Facebook page.
According to the notice, these claims are entirely untrue and were made with the intention of damaging the organisation’s reputation. The advocate stated that Surendran was attempting to create a false narrative, allegedly to stir communal tensions and gain political advantage ahead of upcoming local body elections by portraying a Muslim organisation as anti-national and dangerous, Maktoob Media reported.
He alleged that this was a clear attempt to manufacture tension and communal disharmony in society for political benefit
The notice argues that such remarks have caused significant reputational harm, with widespread circulation on TV and social media reportedly leading to distress among JIH members and supporters. The organisation says it received numerous calls from individuals questioning the claims.
In addition to Surendran, the notice names Manorama News editor Johny Lukose, MMTV Ltd. (the channel’s parent company), and reporter M.R. Harikumar. It asserts that the comments constitute an offence under Section 356(1) of the Bharatiya Nyaya Sanhita and hold both Surendran and the media parties liable for civil and criminal consequences.
The recipients have been asked to issue an unconditional apology, retract the statements, and pay ₹1 crore in damages — an amount the organisation says reflects the seriousness of the harm caused.
They have been warned that failure to comply within seven days will result in legal proceedings. Advocate Ameen Hassan told Maktoob that he has instructions to pursue both civil and criminal cases if the statements are not withdrawn and an apology is not issued.