An FIR has been filed against Tamil newscaster and actor S Varadharajen after he shot a video in which he recounted the ordeal of his friend who tested positive for coronavirus and that video went viral.
In the video, Varadharajen claimed that his bedridden friend was struggling to find a bed in Chennai amid COVID-19 crisis.
He has been booked by Central Crime Branch (CCB) in Tamil Nadu.
The Tamil Nadu government filed an FIR filed against him for putting decrying inadequate beds in private hospitals under several sections, including those related to circulation of ‘false information” likely to have a bearing on people.
Varadharajen made an emotional video in which he said that “One of my friends was down with fever for two days and he developed breathing problems the third day. But there were no beds anywhere in Chennai, including in government hospitals. They were told not to bring the patient to the hospital,” despite reaching out to senior government hospitals, they had failed to get the friend hospitalised.
திரு வரதராஜன் அவர்களின் உருக்கமான பதிவு…
கவனம் நண்பர்களே… pic.twitter.com/gNH5458t49— Karthigaichelvan S (@karthickselvaa) June 8, 2020
The state government denied all allegations of non-availability of beds for COVID-19 patients. Reacting to the actor’s video, Health Minister C Vijayabhaskar had threatened that action will be taken against the actor under the Epidemic Diseases Act.
Minister Vijayabaskar held a press conference to counter the claims of Varadharajen and publicly warned of legal action under the Epidemic Diseases Act against him.
“This is very wrong. At the time of such crisis, to say there are no beds available at government and private hospitals is condemnable,” Vijayabaskar told the media in Chennai on Monday.
Varadharajen later released another video saying that the health of his friend in question has improved and he’s on the road to recovery. He also claimed that the earlier video he made was intended only for his friends’ circle. And that he never thought it would go viral.
